Thomas Barbour: Paisley Popular Poet

Brian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, takes a look at the work of Paisley’s Thomas Barbour Thomas Barbour achieved local fame in unusual fashion. His poems were exclusively published during his lifetime by the Paisley Daily Express. And he wasn’t living in Paisley at the time, so his works... Read More

The Renfrewshire Election Scandal of 1874

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley reveals The Renfrewshire Election Scandal of 1874 thanks to a legal volume donated to the shop I wouldn’t be aware that Renfrewshire had an unsavoury anniversary to celebrate in March 2024 had it not been for the donation – in pristine condition I might add – of... Read More

Paisley Festival 1986 programme

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley discovers another piece of local memorabilia, on this occasion, it’s an old programme from the Paisley Festival 1986 What falls out of books often provides a fascinating insight into the past and none more so than uncovering this amazing hive of creativity celebrated in the annual Paisley... Read More

Mill Memories edited by Evelyn Hood book review

Brian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, reviews Mill Memories by Evelyn Hood After two decades out of print, the acclaimed book by recently-deceased Paisley bestselling author Evelyn Hood has been re-published (and at exactly the same price of £9.99 as before and in an identical format). In anticipation of... Read More

The Wager by David Grann book review

Brian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, reviews The Wager by David Grann Just out in paperback The Wager is the latest book by the author of Killers of the Flower Moon, recently filmed by Martin Scorsese with Leonardo DiCaprio. That pair is reputedly circling this one and no wonder... Read More

Inquiry into the Sinking of the Titanic

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at the Inquiry into the Sinking of the Titanic which came into the shop recently Every now and then something turns up at the bookshop that simply takes your breath away. The John Byrne notebook was one such item. This is another. It dates... Read More

SS Adriatic White Star Line memorabilia at Abbey Books in Paisley

Brian Hannan of Abbey Books talks about a rare piece of memorabilia from the White Star Line’s SS Adriatic Every now and then something fascinating falls out of a book or is lodged at the bottom of a box that finds its way into our secondhand bookshop. This time round it’s a brochure for... Read More

Glasgow, The Clyde and Slavery by D. Pettigrew book review

Brian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, reviews Glasgow, The Clyde and Slavery by D. Pettigrew Britain was officially involved in the slave trade for 170 years, from Charles II granting a charter in 1663 until the Slave Abolition Act of 1833. It’s estimated that during that period British ships... Read More

The Thief Takers by Patrick Pringle

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at a new crime novel, The Thief Takers by Patrick Pringle Notions of freedom proved an almost insuperable barrier to Britain having a competent police force for hundreds of years. In Europe, the land-based armies required to be maintained in case of war with a... Read More

A Thief’s Justice by Douglas Skelton

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at a new crime novel, A Thief’s Justice by Douglas Skelton Every now and then a crime novel hits the bulls-eye. Until now Glasgow writer Douglas Skelton has been better known for non-fiction and his contemporary crime series featuring journalist Rebecca Connolly. That’s going to... Read More