M Gallagher

Pollok Country Park on the outskirts of Glasgow is the idyllic setting for Michael Gallagher’s wonderfully written novel. He grew up in the nearby housing estate, and often heard tales of boys who stole ancient artefacts from Pollok Mansion House, including Ming vases that were destined for the Burrell Museum. When similar treasures, mysteriously “found in the attic and found in a shoe box” appeared at London art auctions, (factual) it spurred Michael into writing the book.

But this is not a crime novel. It is an outstanding and ultimately gripping coming-of-age story, delicately dealing with social history and themes of loss, adolescence, motivation and love. And told without the usual Glasgow stereotypes. Jamie’s Keepsake is the first real cultural response to the Burrell Collection, ‘gifted’ to Glasgow in 1944 and reopened to the public in 2022. You can bet it won’t be selling in the souvenir shop at the Burrell Museum.

Michael left school at 16 to serve an apprenticeship in the shipyards and by age 20 he was working offshore on the oil rigs. After studying engineering he took on a management role, travelling to construction sites throughout Europe. Meeting people from all walks of life has influenced Michael’s writing, but none more than his childhood buddies, characters who are reflected in the novel, Jamie’s Keepsake, and who have remained lifelong friends.