The Waste Land, A Biography of a Poem by Matthew Hollis

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley reviews The Waste Land, A Biography of a Poem by Matthew Hollis Except for the late burst of popularity afforded W.H. Auden’s Stop the Clocks after inclusion in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, published in 1922, would have reigned supreme as... Read More

Abbey Books Readers Club launches in Paisley

Brian Hannan talks us through what could be the start of a book revolution, introducing the Abbey Books Readers Club… Coming up with something quite new at a second-hand bookshop sounds like a contradiction in terms. But we may just have stumbled on something that could revolutionise the world of books. As you might imagine... Read More

The Devil Stone by Caro Ramsay book review

Brian Hannan, local author and manager at Abbey Books in Paisley reviews The Devil Stone by Caro Ramsay. After 13 novels headed by the crime-busting team of Anderson and Costello, Paisley novelist Caro Ramsay has abandoned her usual Glasgow beat and headed up the west coast and surpassed herself with the debut of DCI... Read More

Evelyn Hood: A tribute to Paisley’s all-time bestselling author

Paisley’s all-time bestselling author, Evelyn Hood, has died. Famed for her Paisley sequence of eight novels, former journalist Evelyn’s books had a global following. A tribute by Brian Hannan from Abbey Books. In my opinion she was unfairly discounted in literary circles and for the worst reason of all – she was a woman.... Read More

The Extraordinary Life & Momentous Times of J.M.W. Turner

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at The Extraordinary Life & Momentous Times of J.M.W. Turner by Franny Moyle. One of the biggest benefits of running a second-hand bookshop is that hundreds books pass in across my desk in a week. It’s like watching a conveyor of delights. I’m something... Read More

The Slab Boys on Broadway by Brian Hannan

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley talks through The Slab Boys on Broadway programme, a beautiful piece of John Byrne memorabilia. You are probably unaware just how big a global success iconic Paisley author/painter John Byrne achieved with his play The Slab Boys. I was, too, until among a recent donation to Abbey... Read More

Tracy Patrick: Braw Lads Are Marching Awa

Elderslie-born author Tracy Patrick launches a collection of poems from World War One penned by Renfrewshire soldiers next month at Abbey Books in Paisley. Titled Braw Lads Are Marching Awa, Brian Hannan from Abbey Books caught up with her to find out more… Can you tell me why you came to do this book?  The book... Read More