An Old Pub Near The Angel

An Old Pub Near the Angel is James Kelman’s first collection of short stories. It was first published in America in 1973, but has just been published for the first time in Britain. Each of the thirteen short stories is a close look into different aspects of working class life at the time of writing. Kelman uses his own experiences to inform his art and could be described as a realist; this collection is a brilliant example of this style of writing. The subject matter for the stories is the everyday routines, habits, trials, thoughts, highs and lows of working class Glaswegians. They are mostly set in pubs or bedsits and describe the situations and thoughts of a spectrum of characters. Without unnecessary explanation we are presented with an everyday situation and a back-story and tale begin to subtly form, as we begin to understand what is going on the author whisks us away to another scene with another character with their own story to tell. We witness a variety of settings and characters, from a best man and a groom talking about marriage in a pub to holiday workers on Jersey. However, there are recurring themes of poverty, unemployment, hunger and drinking throughout the stories. With this collection Kelman provides a truthful, detailed, varied and interesting account of working class life.

The ‘gritty’ subject matter combined with Kelman’s realist stance could have easily made these stories grim and depressive, but perhaps the strongest element of this collection is the humour. Whilst there is often a melancholy core to each story and the hardship of poverty is accurately presented, Kelman manages to find humour in each situation. Sometimes the tales themselves contain comic elements, but mostly it is the thoughts and feelings of each character that lift the subject matter. Kelman’s characters do not tend towards the self-pitying type and, like any real person that finds themselves confronted by hardship, find amusement in small things that help them get through each day. The spectrum of views on different subjects also adds humour, in ‘New Business’ and ‘The Best Man Advises’ Kelman allows his characters to discuss important issues with the sincerity and humour that you can often overhear in pubs.

The other element that lifts the subject matter is that Kelman does not simply present sob stories and ask us to pity his characters. Rather than dwelling on the melancholy, he presents the small pleasures that his characters seek. For example, if you had no money or food you would be grateful for a raw egg with some sauce, or week old soup, or a cigarette butt. The pleasures that Kelman’s characters seek definitely have melancholic undertones, but they are presented as surface pleasures, joy to be grabbed whilst it can be, and because of this it is hard not to view them as important, uplifting experiences.

The other great thing about Kelman’s writing in this collection is the thoughts, feelings and storylines that he doesn’t tell you, the ideas that he implies. With each story we simply drop into someone’s life for a fleeting moment, often just for one night, or one conversation. The storylines are loose, if present at all, the beginnings do not properly explain anything, and the endings are abrupt and don’t really resolve anything. However, for me, this is in no way a problem. It is up to the reader’s imagination to fill in the blanks, but Kelman subtly throws in a line or a piece of speech that helps mould a character’s past and future in our minds. His mixture between first and third person narration also aids this. Ultimately we decide if one character does throw himself off a bridge or another ends up happily or miserably married.

An Old Pub Near the Angel is a great collection of stories and I would say a must read. Kelman manages to discuss a variety of subjects through simple, honest stories that are humorous, melancholy, occasionally heart warming and easy to connect with. It’s a great one for picking through slowly or reading cover to cover in a day. Although set in the 1970s the stories are still relevant today and provide a great insight into the struggles and joys of the people that society still often ignores. This new edition also contains an interview with Kelman and an informative afterword by the author which both add more to the stories. Kelman is a great Scottish writer who will not disappoint and I would highly recommend this book.

Tim B-G