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Literary Fiction· United Kingdom

Shuggie Bain

by Douglas Stuart
Aggregate Editorial Score94/100
★Booker Prize
Published 2020538 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

Published in 2020, Shuggie Bain established Douglas Stuart as one of the defining voices in literary fiction. Young Shuggie Bain navigates the Thatcherite poverty of 1980s Glasgow while trying to care for his alcoholic mother Agnes, the person he loves most in the world. Stuart's debut novel—autobiographical in its roots—won the Booker Prize and is a devastating portrait of working-class life, maternal love, and survival against the odds. Themes of addiction, poverty, Glasgow run through the work. The book has received recognition from Booker Prize 2020.

Book Details

AuthorDouglas Stuart
Published2020
Country of Origin🇬🇧 United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Pages538
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780802148506
Editorial Score94/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

This book is part of United Kingdom's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United Kingdom →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 2020, Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain is a work of literary fiction that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with addiction, poverty, Glasgow, love gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Among its recognitions: Booker Prize 2020. With an editorial score of 94/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. What distinguishes Shuggie Bain is how it handles its central concerns — addiction, poverty, Glasgow, love — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Shuggie Bain reflects Douglas Stuart's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with United Kingdom's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Booker Prize
winner · global
202094
✍️
About the Author
Douglas Stuart
United Kingdom
View Author →

Douglas Stuart is a celebrated author from United Kingdom known for influential works of literary fiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shuggie Bain about?

Young Shuggie Bain navigates the Thatcherite poverty of 1980s Glasgow while trying to care for his alcoholic mother Agnes, the person he loves most in the world. Stuart's debut novel—autobiographical in its roots—won the Booker Prize and is a devastating portrait of working-class life, maternal love, and survival against the odds.

Who wrote Shuggie Bain?

Shuggie Bain was written by Douglas Stuart, from United Kingdom. First published in 2020.

What awards has Shuggie Bain won?

Shuggie Bain has received the following awards and honours: Booker Prize 2020.

Is Shuggie Bain worth reading?

Shuggie Bain is one of the most critically acclaimed books ever written, with an aggregate editorial score of 94/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in addiction, poverty, Glasgow.

Where can I buy Shuggie Bain?

You can buy Shuggie Bain on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Shuggie Bain?

Shuggie Bain is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is Shuggie Bain from?

Shuggie Bain originates from United Kingdom's literary tradition. Explore more books from United Kingdom on our country page.

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