The Busconductor Hines

The Busconductor Hines by James Kelman

Coping with the boredom of being a busconductor, and also aware that his plans to emigrate to Australia won't come to anything, Robert Hines is a young Glaswegian leading a drab life. There are compensations, however, in his wife and child, and his eccentric, anarchic imagination. Presenting this story, this novel provides a slice of Glasgow life.

Living in a bedsit, just coping with the boredom of being a busconductor, and fully aware that his plans to emigrate to Australia won't come to anything, Robert Hines is a young Glaswegian leading a pretty drab life. There are compensations, however, in his wife and child, and his eccentric, anarchic imagination. Kelman provides a brilliantly executed, uncompromising slice of Glasgow life - an intelligent, funny and humane novel. It was first published by Polygon in 1984.