Shuggie Bain

Douglas Stuart's striking debut novel takes place in Glasgow at in 1980's at the height of Thatcherism, which represented a belief in free markets and a small state. This led to rampant unemployment among a large swath of citizens in the UK. It also caused many of the usual social structures to unravel. At the heart of the novel is Hugh "Shuggie" Bain, a sweet and lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in run-down public housing. Most of his time is spent dealing with his loving but chronically alcoholic mother. On top of that, Shuggie is struggling to somehow become the normal boy he desperately longs to be. Below is a list of films and books that deal with the fallout of Ms. Thatcher's policies in British society as well as some that follow other themes prevalent in the book.