A Glasgow Bible

by Jamie Stuart

Lovingly captured in the lively and colourful Glasgow vernacular, the Old and New Testaments are rejuvenated in this great bestselling classic of Scottish writing. ‘From “no mean city” has come no mean achievement, a triumph of imagination and graphic writing which will be welcome far beyond Glasgow. I’ll be surprised if it does not whet your appetite to go back to the Bible and discover, or rediscover, for yourself the riches it contains.’ Professor Robert Davidson Acclaimed as ‘the Scottish publishing event of the year’ (Evening Times) and a ‘work of love’ (The Herald).

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

Reviews

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun!

[Adam]

"When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, the hale place wis in an uproar. Some folk didny ken aboot Jesus an asked who he wis. The crowd said, ‘This is the great prophet – Jesus. He comes fae Nazareth in Galilee, so he does.’

"When Jesus went inty the Temple, he wis furious at whit he saw gaun oan. Barras everywhaur – buyin an sellin – wheelin an dealin! At wance he heaved ower the tables o the money-chingers, an upset the stools o the pigeon-dealers, cryin oot: ‘God said this Temple is for prayer an worship. You lot hiv turned it inty a den o cheats!’

"Efter the rammy died doon, some blind an crippled folk came up tae Jesus in the Temple an he wis gled tae cure them aw. But when the heid priests an the doctors o the law saw the miracles Jesus wis daein, an even heard the wee weans in the Temple cryin oot, ‘Praise be tae the Son o David’, they wirny best pleased.

"So Jesus jist left them taei get oan wi it, an went oot o the city tae his ludgins in Bethany."

[William Shep · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bible translated into broad Scots. For example, the Creation:
"It was a lang time ago right enough - thoosans and thoosans o years since. There wis nuthin whaur the earth is noo - absolutely nuthin at aw. 'Weel noo,' God says tae himsel wan day, 'I'll fix a wee bit dod o land - doon there.'" Priceless!

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe this bible ought to be translated. The author injected a high dose of wit and humour into his free translation. It's only a slim wee thing but it conveys what a Glaswegian or any Scot for that matter, might endeavour to tell you about stories he or she had read in the bible, if you were to ask him or her for a verbal account. A very funny read.

[mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really hard work to read Scottish vernacular when written phonetically, but when you take it in small chunks -- and assuming you don't view this sort of thing as an affront to God -- it's quite entertaining.

It will take me a long time to get through this one.