This complete collection of Agnes Owens’ five novellas opens with 'Like Birds in the Wilderness', a portrait of brickie Mac. He’s a straightforward guy with a talent for laying bricks and a liking for the drink who decides to head to the oil-rich north to seek his fortune. 'A Working Mother' is a wildly entertaining cautionary tale: while Betty’s husband Adam broods and drinks (to be matched at times by Betty, just to be sociable) she flirts with their best friend Brendan and tries to avoid the roving hands of her new employer. They’re all driving Betty crazy. 'In For the Love of Willie Owens' takes a sensitive, canny look at wartime teenage pregnancy – as relevant now as ever.
'Bad Attitudes' and 'Jen’s Party' conclude the collection: both deadly, darkly funny stories about family relationships and love on the dole.
- ISBN13 9781846975608
- Publish Date 3 September 2020 (first published 3 March 2008)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 21 January 2023
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Birlinn General
- Imprint Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited
- Edition Reissue
- Format Paperback
- Pages 498
- Language English