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stone wall, of no great height, and the iron railings it uplifted were no higher than the sward within. Thus the whole house was bare to the view from the ground up, nothing in front to screen its admirable qualities. From each corner, behind, flanking walls went out to the right and left, and hid the yard and the granaries. In front of these walls the dwelling seemed to thrust itself out for notice.
29:
141:, John Gourlay, against the spiteful comments and petty machinations of the envious and idle villagers of Barbie (the "bodies"). The sudden return after fifteen years' absence of the ambitious merchant, James Wilson, son of a mole-catcher, leads to commercial competition against which Gourlay has trouble responding.
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of writing which described rural
Scotland sentimentally as a group of peaceful and harmonious communities helping one another through difficult times. The novel is filled with interesting people, described without much sympathy, and is well-stocked with the author's musings on life and the Scottish
152:
Both in appearance and position the house was a worthy counterpart of its owner. It was a substantial two-storey dwelling, planted firm and gawcey on a little natural terrace that projected a considerable distance into the Square. At the foot of the steep little bank shelving to the terrace ran a
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In every little Scotch community there is a distinct type known as the "bodie." "What does he do, that man?" you may ask, and the answer will be, "Really, I could hardly tell ye what he does – he's juist a bodie!" The "bodie" may be a gentleman of independent means (...) or he may be a jobbing
144:
After the arrival of the railway, Gourlay's position worsens and he begins to invest his hopes and money in his neurotic son, John, who cannot live up to his expectations. His scatterbrained wife and daughter live in terror of his ferocious temper and take refuge in novelettes and daydreaming.
305:
Four years have passed since Wilson's arrival. Johnny Gibson helps Wilson lay a plan to keep
Gourlay's carts busy, so that he will later miss a better opportunity which Wilson can make use of. This is done by having him sign a contract eight weeks in advance. Once Gourlay realises he has been
298:
Templandmuir, on Wilson's request, asks
Gourlay to attend a public meeting about the new railway. At the meeting, Gourlay is humiliated; after he storms out, Templandmuir takes the opportunity to tell him his lease of the quarry will not be renewed. Gourlay, furious, returns home and hits his
660:
226:
Describes how
Gourlay dominates the carrying business in the town, and how his rights to the local quarry (due to expire in two years) were granted to him by the Laird of Templandmuir. Introduces Toddle, the Deacon, the Provost, and
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Gourlay confronts his son and there is a ferocious brawl. John takes momentary refuge at the Red Lion, but gets into a fight with Brodie. On his return, they grapple again, and John hits his father with the huge poker, killing him
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John and young Jimmy Wilson are invited to dinner by Jock Allan, where they meet
Tarmillan, Logan, Tozer and old Partan. The conversation turns to Bauldy Johnston, an acquaintance, and his skill at phrase-making.
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In order to keep up with the
Wilsons, Gourlay has sent his son to the High School of Skeighan. John often plays truant; one day, when his father catches him, he drags him to the school and throws him at the
203:
said in an interview that it was the first
English-language novel he ever read, and that after reading it he "wanted to be Scotch." Its wisdom and scepticism retain interest for modern readers.
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They send for the doctor, claiming that
Gourlay fell from the ladder. John starts to go insane. Mrs Gourlay discovers that their mortgage is to be foreclosed. John is sent to
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After John passes on his way to school, the bodies start discussing him. Johnny Coe tells the story of the boy's birth, when Jock
Gourlay's stubbornness endangered his life.
168:
A great deal of the success that the novel enjoyed was the result of its sheer novelty. It was said to be the first "truthful" picture of
Scottish life since the death of
245:
Gilmour boasts to the "bodies" about the quarrel. They talk about how Gourlay was cheated by his builder Gibson. Later, when Gourlay passes, the bodies, led by the
391:
Gourlay receives a letter informing him of his son's disgrace. On his way to borrow £80 from Johnny Coe, the "bodies" of Barbie watch him and make veiled insults.
267:
John runs home and hides in the attic. After Janet comes home from school, he goes downstairs to find his father showing off his new fender to Grant of Loranogie.
687:
gardener; but he is equally a "bodie." The chief occupation of his idle hours (and his hours are chiefly idle) is the discussion of his neighbour's affairs.
280:
James Wilson returns to Barbie after fifteen years' absence, during which he has become a successful businessman. He accosts Gourlay, who slights him.
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Wilson's business encroaches on Gourlay's. When Wilson spoils his bargaining, Gourlay is so angry that he accidentally breaks his own walking-stick.
239:
Introduces Mrs Gourlay and her daughter Janet. The orra man, Jock Gilmour, hits John, then quarrels with his mother and father. He is dismissed.
378:
John is expelled from the university. What with the serious illnesses of Janet and Mrs Gourlay, the family is on the brink of financial ruin.
306:
tricked, he refuses to honour the contract. When Gibson remonstrates with him, Gourlay throws him through the window of the Red Lion Inn.
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733:
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249:, ask him for access to his property in order to tap a spring, which would provide running water for the town. He refuses.
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John leaves for Edinburgh, slighting the Deacon as he goes. Gourlay is forced to dismiss his last worker, Peter Riney.
630:
360:
He struts around Barbie, smoking cigarettes. During his summer holidays, he acquires a habit of drinking to excess.
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On a weekday morning at eight, Gourlay's twelve carts set off together, and are watched by all in the Square.
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418:) and Mrs Gourlay (who has breast cancer) poison themselves. Their corpses are discovered the next morning.
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and a book on his "rules of writing"; however both were never to be finished, due to the author's death.
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John returns, without success. He poisons himself. After discovering his body, both Janet (who has
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348:
In his second year at Edinburgh, John wins the Raeburn Prize for his essay on "An Arctic Night."
774:
707:
233:
Introduces his 12-year-old son, John Gourlay, and describes the House with the Green Shutters.
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An adptation of the novel for the stage by Gerard Mulgrew was produced by Communicado at the
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Gourlay's pony "Tam" dies. Forced to use the bus, he overhears that Wilson's son is to go to
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The symbol of the family's prosperity is their expensive house in the middle of the town:
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John returns home at night, very proud. He notices that his mother is perhaps not well.
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John takes the train to Edinburgh. A description of his impressionable character.
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The positive reaction greatly encouraged Brown who planned another novel called
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James Wilson moves into town. He converts Rab Jamieson's barn into an Emporium.
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character. Most adverse criticism focuses on the book's tendencies towards
503:(named in ch.12; in ch.14 he is "ex-Provost"; by ch.24, Wilson is Provost)
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The Laird of Templandmuir, who granted him rights to the quarry (ch.2, 12)
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At noon, John is hurt by Swipey Broon, and he runs away from school.
118:, first published in 1901 by John MacQueen. Set in mid-19th century
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Fearful Selves: Character, Community and the Scottish Imagination
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Cunningham the dirty and Calderwood the drunken, grocers (ch.11)
122:, in the fictitious town of Barbie which is based on his native
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in August 1989, with Sandy Welch in the role of John Gourlay.
126:, it consciously violates the conventions of the sentimental
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Andy Gow and Elshie Hogg, carters in Gourlay's employ (ch.1)
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George Douglas Brown's 'The House with the Green Shutters'
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The novel describes the struggles of a proud and taciturn
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Auld Tam, or "Aquinas", a professor at Edinburgh (ch.18)
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MacCandlish, headmaster of Skeighan High School (ch.14)
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Jimmy Bain and Sandy Cross, two other employees (ch.24)
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The dominie (headmaster) of the primary school (ch.15)
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Jock Allan, a middle-aged actuary at Edinburgh (ch.17)
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to study, and Gourlay resolves to send John there too.
541:Jock Gilmour, Gourlay's orra man (sacked in ch.4)
199:, and many other writers of the next generation.
130:, and is sometimes quoted as an influence on the
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623:The Association for Scottish Literary Studies
702:. Vol. Winter-Spring 1967, no. 40.
473:Grant of Loranogie, a wealthy farmer (ch.8)
172:, and a welcome antidote to the so-called
27:
604:No. 4, Winter 1980–81, pp. 29 – 32,
744:, Issue 101, 18 - 24 August 1989, p. 34
752:
698:Christ, Interviewed by Ronald (1967).
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422:
531:The Reverend Mr Struthers (ch.5, 20)
458:and his wife, owners of the Emporium
33:Modern Library edition from 1927 of
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461:Old Tarmillan of Irrendavie (ch.11)
13:
585:
521:Tam Wylie, a wealthy farmer (ch.5)
512:
449:(Miss Richmond of Tenshillingland)
22:The House with the Green Shutters
16:1901 novel by George Douglas Brown
14:
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736:The House with the Green Shutters
662:The House with the Green Shutters
645:The House with the Green Shutters
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107:The House with the Green Shutters
35:The House with the Green Shutters
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508:Tam Brodie, a cobbler (ch.5, 25)
470:, who built the house (ch.5, 13)
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408:to see if anything can be done.
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452:Peter Riney, his old assistant
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550:Drucken Wallace and his wife
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7:
700:"The Art of Fiction No. 39"
665:public domain audiobook at
486:Sandy Toddle and his sister
366:John is scandalously drunk.
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580:Edinburgh Festival Fringe
191:It was an inspiration to
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715:Cite magazine requires
431:, the carrier of Barbie
770:Novels set in Scotland
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576:Lyceum Studio Theatre
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73:John MacQueen, London
615:Smith, Iain Crichton
556:Widow Wallace (ch.5)
518:Johnny Coe, a gossip
193:Lewis Grassic Gibbon
132:Scottish Renaissance
116:George Douglas Brown
46:George Douglas Brown
760:1901 British novels
99:Hardback, Paperback
23:
423:List of characters
110:is a novel by the
21:
650:Project Gutenberg
201:Jorge Luis Borges
186:The Incompatibles
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88:Publication place
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738:by Andrew Pulver
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684:From Chapter V:
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536:Minor characters
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158:from Chapter III
79:Publication date
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586:Further reading
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197:Hugh MacDiarmid
174:kailyard school
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435:John Gourlay
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429:John Gourlay
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416:tuberculosis
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395:Chapter XXV.
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364:Chapter XXI.
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352:Chapter XIX.
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296:Chapter XII.
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207:Plot summary
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447:Mrs Gourlay
358:Chapter XX.
317:Chapter XV.
313:headmaster.
290:Chapter XI.
278:Chapter IX.
253:Chapter VI.
237:Chapter IV.
224:Chapter II.
754:Categories
734:review of
601:Cencrastus
528:(ch.5, 14)
398:instantly.
284:Chapter X.
243:Chapter V.
218:Chapter I.
212:Prosperity
610:0264-0856
492:Allardyce
437:, his son
321:Edinburgh
179:melodrama
170:John Galt
164:Criticism
124:Ochiltree
70:Publisher
742:The List
667:LibriVox
617:(1988),
594:(1980),
156:—
120:Ayrshire
112:Scottish
91:Scotland
52:Language
578:on the
496:Provost
406:Glasgow
383:The end
139:carrier
114:writer
64:Realism
55:English
629:
608:
498:Connal
490:Deacon
247:Deacon
42:Author
673:Notes
598:, in
299:wife.
60:Genre
721:help
627:ISBN
606:ISSN
227:Coe.
83:1901
648:at
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