An intriguing overview of how Glasgow has been portrayed in fiction, specifically those works set in the city. Burgess traces not only the stereotypes and truths presented in novels and short stories, but the public and literary responses to them. A reader unfamiliar with the works she discusses will get their flavor through excerpts and the author's commentary. However, this book is intended for a local-ish audience rather than an international readership. Those unfamiliar with Glesca vocabulary will be mystified by "kenspeckle", "gallus", "douce", etc., and a surface knowledge of Lowland history, while not required, would certainly be useful. If there had been a glossary, I'd have rated it 4 stars, because the book is a fascinating portrait of how Glasgow's social and cultural evolution has been reflected in literature of all stripes.