Book description
In Glasgow, death is always fatal. Students of glasgowness agree
that there's a distinctive Glasgow 'take' on mortality. The visitor
making the journey through the graveyards of Glasgow will surely
become aware of a special Glaswegian condition -- apart, that is, from
the common condition of death. You feel it when you start to absorb
the atmosphere of the city -- its elements of the sad, the arrogant,
the courageous, the righteous, the hilarious and the hideous, blended
in strange proportions, all to be assimilated and enjoyed along with
the weird and wonderful stories of the occupants of those quiet places
of timeless repose. The journey can be a heady experience. It starts
with the resting-place of Mungo's bones, then passes on to surgeon
extraordinaire Maister Peter Lowe, to John Henry Alexander, the
actor-manager credited with inventing the Great Gun Trick in which the
trickster seems to catch a bullet in his mouth; past the grave of
Pierre emile L'Angelier (allegedly poisoned by Madeleine Smith) and
beyond to the headstone of Benny Lynch, World Flyweight Boxing
Champion. The choice of graveyards in this book will hopefully catch
the fancy and stir the imagination. Glasgow writer, the late Jimmy
Black conducts this unusual tour of Glasgow's historic graveyards. The
journey is a heady experience, taking you round the Cathedral, the
Necropolis, St David's (Ramshorn); Sighthill, the Southern Necropolis;
Calton, Jocelyn Square; the Western Necropolis; St Peter's (Dalbeth);
St Kentigern's and Cathcart (today in East Renfrewshire). Just enjoy
the fresh air and expect the unexpected.
Jimmy Black was born in Manchester 1920 and brought up in the East
End of Glasgow. Although a bricklayer to trade he became a writer and
broadcaster and was a popular after-dinner speaker. He died in 2004.
Michael TRB Turnbull is the author of many books on Scotland including
the Edinburgh Graveyard Guide.
