A Hard-Won Prize
In this book of 370 pages, which represents about two-thirds of its author's entire output, is a short memoir which says a lot about who Agnes Owens is and the kind of stories she is drawn to telling. Marching To The Highlands And Into The Unknown was tagged on to the end of her collection, People Like That, published in 1996. When I first read it, however, I didn't know that and thought initially it was just another story. "In June 1949," it begins, "my first husband, baby daughter of two months, and myself set forth for the north of Scotland." Couched thus, with a sense of Stevensonian drama inferred by the antique phrase "set forth", it reeked of romance.
Soon, though, in the very next sentence, that was detonated. Owens and her family, one learned, were going north not for adventure but in search of employment, having been attracted by an article in a newspaper which said there were jobs for people who wanted to work on the land. So, like the Joads in The Grapes Of Wrath, Owens travelled hopefully if not entirely willingly into the great unknown, a case, as she puts it, "of squaw follows Indian brave and asks no questions."
A Journey of Struggles
What follows is a bleak account which would be hilarious if it were about a couple of naive hikers escaping Glasgow's mean streets for a weekend's slumming in bothies. Dutifully, Owens followed her husband from one short-term job to another, the heavens often opening and the clegs voracious. In the beginning, their home was a tent, which she once nearly set on fire heating the baby's milk. Relations between husband and wife were fraught. After about a year they returned south where they were finally given a prefab by the council. Owens had three more children before her husband died at the age of 43. They had not been, she says, "particularly happy".
Thereafter, she worked in a variety of low-paying jobs, assuaging stress with a drink at the weekend in front of the television. She remarried and had three more children. Then, in 1984, at the age of 58, she published her first novel, Gentlemen Of The West - a series of related stories - which is included in the present volume. A year later, she contributed eight stories to Lean Tales, which also featured two of her mentors, Alasdair Gray and James Kelman. (A third champion, Liz Lochhead, has written an introduction to The Complete Short Stories.) "I suppose you could say my life was a struggle," reflects Owens in Marching To The Highlands, "as it is with most men and women of the working class even in years of good employment. Yet there was always a hankering to do something better."
Ambition and Humor in Owens's Work
A hankering to do something better pervades Owens's work, which is marked with humor and unsentimentality and an absence of self-pity or bitterness. The opening story is Arabella, which made its debut in Lean Tales. It is in pole position, we're told, because it was the first story Owens wrote. Familiarity has not lessened the impact of its overture: "Arabella pushed the pram up the steep path to her cottage. It was hard going since the four dogs inside were a considerable weight." Monstrously fat, spectacularly unclean and unappealing, Arabella is a woman with indefinable powers, whose work involves her and her clients taking off all their clothes.
Arabella strikes me as one of those women on reality TV shows such as Life Laundry who are terminally depressed and stuck in a rut. The reality of life for most of Owens's characters, who are mainly working-class, uneducated, and feckless, is that the hand they've been dealt holds few if any jokers. Mac, the principal character in Gentlemen Of The West and its sequel, Like Birds In The Wilderness (which is not included in The Complete Short Stories), is typical. A builder by trade, Mac is in his early 20s when we are introduced to him. The situations in which he finds himself are identifiably Kelmanesque. Pubs figure prominently. Money is tight. Violence is always a possibility.
Scottish Hotels: An Escape to Tranquility
While Agnes Owens's stories depict a world of struggle and limited opportunities, there is no doubt that the desire for escape and a better life is a universal theme. For those seeking a break from their everyday lives, Scotland offers a plethora of charming hotels that provide a retreat into tranquility.
From the stunning landscapes of the Highlands to the historic elegance of Edinburgh, Scottish hotels offer a range of experiences to suit every traveler's tastes. Whether you're looking for a cozy country inn, a luxurious city retreat, or a breathtaking castle stay, Scotland has it all.
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Loch Lomond and stay in a lakeside hotel where you can enjoy walks along the shore or indulge in water activities. Alternatively, head to the picturesque Isle of Skye and discover unique boutique hotels nestled amongst dramatic landscapes.
If history and culture are your passions, the city of Edinburgh is the perfect destination. Stay in a charming hotel near the Royal Mile and explore the historic sites, visit art galleries, and experience the vibrant atmosphere of the city's festivals.
Whatever your preference, a Scottish hotel offers a chance to escape the hardships of everyday life and immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquility of this remarkable country.
So why not plan your next getaway and embark on a journey to Scotland, where you can experience the magic, history, and hospitality that this enchanting destination has to offer.