James Kelman provides a brilliantly executed, uncompromising slice of Glasgow life – an intelligent, funny and humane novel. First published by Polygon in 1984.    

Polygon relaunches James Kelman’s backlist with four classic titles – Not Not While The Giro, The Busconductor Hines, A Chancer and his very first short story collection, An Old Pub Near The Angel in 2007. Each book features a new afterword in which the mature author reflects on his work and its development. 
    

This collection, written with irony and great tenderness, confirmed James Kelman’s status as one of the most significant writers in the UK, and remains as powerful, relevant and truthful as it was in the early 1980s.

Set among the tenements and bedsits of Glasgow, James Kelman’s first collection of short stories shine a light on the exploits of young and old.