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This Bright Life

By Karen Campbell
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Brief Description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SALTIRE AWARD 2025 'Life-affirming' JANICE HALLETT 'Full of compassion and hope' ELISSA SOAVE 'A masterpiece' CAROLE HAILEY Margaret - an elderly widow who just wants to be left with her memories and her quiet, contained life. Claire - newly divorced, downsizing into the... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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The engrossing and uplifting story of a small boy born with the odds stacked against him, and the decision that alters the course of his life forever

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE SALTIRE AWARD 2025

'Life-affirming' JANICE HALLETT

'Full of compassion and hope' ELISSA SOAVE

'A masterpiece' CAROLE HAILEY

Margaret - an elderly widow who just wants to be left with her memories and her quiet, contained life.

Claire - newly divorced, downsizing into the neighbourhood and way too busy to mend a broken heart.

Gerard - a tearaway twelve-year-old who hates his name but loves his little brother and sister. Gerard is a bright kid, but trouble always follows him. No one really knows what it's like at home; he's used to carrying a lot on his small shoulders.

Gerard doesn't always make good decisions. One morning, he makes a very bad one, upending not just his world, but the lives of Margaret and Claire too. Both heart-breaking and life-affirming, This Bright Life is a story of messy lives, second chances and the many hands it takes to build a boy.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781837261185

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 March 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Books

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 214g

Pages: 304

Collections

Education & Reference Fiction General Fiction Karen Campbell Literary Fiction

About the Author

Karen Campbell is the author of nine novels. A former police officer, then Glasgow City Council press officer, she won the Best New Scottish Writer Award in 2009. She also teaches creative writing and was recently Writer in Residence at Dumfries and Galloway Council. Originally from Glasgow, she now lives in Galloway.

karencampbell.scot

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