Description
Book Synopsis: A story of queer love and working-class families, Young Mungo is the brilliant second novel from the Booker Prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain.
Douglas Stuart’s first novel Shuggie Bain, winner of the 2020 Booker Prize, is one of the most successful literary debuts of the century so far. Published or forthcoming in forty territories, it has sold more than one million copies worldwide. Now Stuart returns with Young Mungo, his extraordinary second novel. Both a page-turner and literary tour de force, it is a vivid portrayal of working-class life and a deeply moving and highly suspenseful story of the dangerous first love of two young men.
Growing up in a housing estate in Glasgow, Mungo and James are born under different stars—Mungo a Protestant and James a Catholic—and they should be sworn enemies if they’re to be seen as men at all. Yet against all odds, they become best friends as they find a sanctuary in the pigeon dovecote that James has built for his prize racing birds. As they fall in love, they dream of finding somewhere they belong, while Mungo works hard to hide his true self from all those around him, especially from his big brother Hamish, a local gang leader with a brutal reputation to uphold. And when several months later Mungo’s mother sends him on a fishing trip to a loch in Western Scotland with two strange men whose drunken banter belies murky pasts, he will need to summon all his inner strength and courage to try to get back to a place of safety, a place where he and James might still have a future.
Imbuing the everyday world of its characters with rich lyricism and giving full voice to people rarely acknowledged in the literary world, Young Mungo is a gripping and revealing story about the bounds of masculinity, the divisions of sectarianism, the violence faced by many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much.
Details
Experience the power of queer love and the resilience of working-class families in Young Mungo, the breathtaking second novel from the Booker Prize-winning author Douglas Stuart. Following the immense success of his debut novel, Shuggie Bain, Stuart takes readers on another gripping journey through his literary mastery.
With its publication or forthcoming release in over forty territories and more than one million copies sold worldwide, Young Mungo is a literary sensation like no other. Prepare to be captivated by this deeply moving and suspenseful tale of two young men and their dangerous first love.
Set in the urban landscape of Glasgow, Mungo and James grow up as boys who should be enemies - one Protestant and one Catholic. However, against all odds, their unique friendship blossoms in the sanctuary of a pigeon dovecote built by James for his prized racing birds. As they yearn for acceptance and a place to call their own, Mungo fights to conceal his true identity, especially from his notorious older brother Hamish.
Young Mungo takes a thrilling turn when Mungo's mother sends him on a fishing trip with two enigmatic men whose murky pasts come to light through their drunken banter. As Mungo finds himself in danger, he must summon his inner strength and courage to reunite with James, the person who holds his heart dear.
Step into the enchanting world of Young Mungo, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary with lyrical prose and characters who are often overlooked in the literary sphere. Explore themes of masculinity, sectarianism, and the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, all while delving into the perils of unyielding love.
Uncover the profound secrets that lie within the pages of Young Mungo and embrace the unforgettable journey shared by Mungo and James. Find your own place of safety and hope for their future, and let the magic of this remarkable novel ignite your imagination.
Discover the power of love and resilience in Young Mungo here.
Literature & Fiction - We the Animals
