Photo of Douglas Stuart

Ten Evenings

Douglas Stuart

“Flames are not just the end, they are also the beginning. For everything that you have destroyed can be rebuilt. From your own ashes you can grow again.”

Douglas Stuart, Shuggie Bain

The winner of the 2020 Booker Prize, Douglas Stuart’s stunning debut novel Shuggie Bain is a heartbreaking, unforgettable story of alcoholism, sexuality, and love—an epic portrayal of a working-class family that is rarely seen in fiction.

Hugh “Shuggie” Bain, a sweet and lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in run-down public housing in Glasgow, Scotland. Shuggie’s mother Agnes responds to poverty and the philandering of her taxi-driver husband with the solace of drink – cans of lager hidden in handbags and poured into tea mugs. Abandoned by his father and older siblings, Shuggie cares for Agnes as she swings between alcoholic binges and sobriety while he struggles to become the normal boy he desperately longs to be, instead of a boy with a secret that all but he can see.

Douglas Stuart was born and raised in Glasgow. After graduating from the Royal College of Art in London, he moved to New York City, where he began a career in fashion design. Shuggie Bain is his first novel.

“We were bowled over by this first novel, which creates an amazingly intimate, compassionate, gripping portrait of addiction, courage and love. The book gives a vivid glimpse of a marginalised, impoverished community in a bygone era of British history. It’s a desperately sad, almost-hopeful examination of family and the destructive powers of desire.”

BOOKER PRIZE JUDGES

Books

Shuggie Bain is available from White Whale Bookstore.

Sponsored with support from NexTier Bank

Promotional Sponsor
Contemporary Craft

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart book cover

WHEN

Monday, January 24, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. ET

COVID-19

At this time, all in-person attendees must be fully vaccinated or present a recent negative COVID-19 test. Masks must be worn by everyone for the duration of their visit. You will need to bring proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test, photo ID, and mask. Find detailed entry requirements at pittsburghlectures.org/welcome.

TICKETS

Tickets to attend in person start at $15
Virtual passes are $15
$10 student tickets are available with promo code LS22STUDENT
BUY IN-PERSON SEATINGBUY VIRTUAL PASS
The video link for the livestreamed event will be emailed to all ticket holders on the day of the lecture. The captioned video will be available to view for one week, expiring on January 31, 2022.
Community access tickets are available if cost is a barrier to view this lecture. If you’d like to request a community access ticket please email us at info@pittsburghlectures.org.

WHERE

Carnegie Music Hall
4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15213

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