Douglas Stuart on Shuggie Bain, Storytelling, and the Human Condition (Part One)
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Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet. I'm producer Mia Sarrenti. On the show today, Douglas Stewart, the Booker Prize winning author of Suggy Bane and Young Mungo. Douglas Stewart is celebrated globally for his heartbreaking, funny, and moving depictions of working class life, identity, and resilience. Suggy Bane, his first novel, follows a young protagonist by the same name, who spends his 1980s childhood in rundown public housing in Glasgow, in Scotland. It is a story of addiction, sexuality, and love. The Shuggy wrangles with a complex relationship with his alcoholic mother. The novel was widely critically acclaimed, winning the Booker Prize in 2020 and both debut of the year and book of the year at the British Book Awards.
It's been translated into over forty languages and sold over a million copies. Stewart's second book, Young Mungo, explores masculinity, queerness, and working class life in 1980s Glasgow. Douglas joined us recently on stage at the Kiln Theatre in London to discuss his literary journey. The inspiration behind his award winning novels and his insights on writing honest depictions of marginalized worlds rarely seen in the literary mainstream. Douglas was joined in conversation by award winning journalist, broadcaster, and documentary filmmaker Jenny Kleinan.
This episode is coming to you in two parts. If you want to listen to the live recording in full and ad free, why not consider becoming an Intelligent Squared Premium subscriber? You can head over to intelligence squared dot com forward slash membership to find out more. Or hit the IQ two extra button on Apple. Now let's join our host, Jenny Kleman, with more.
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