George Douglas Brown
George Douglas Brown (26 January 1869 – 28 August 1902) was a Scottish novelist, best known for his highly influential realist novel 'The House with the Green Shutters' (1901), which marked a departure from the sentimental kailyard tradition in Scottish literature. Brown published the novel under the pseudonym George Douglas, and it quickly established his reputation. Unfortunately, his literary career was cut short by his untimely death at the age of 33.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. House With The Green Shutters
The novel is a stark portrayal of small-town life in Scotland at the turn of the 20th century, focusing on the Gourlay family, who are brought to ruin by the tyrannical and arrogant John Gourlay. Despite his initial success as a merchant, Gourlay's hubris and inability to adapt to changing times lead to his downfall, exacerbated by the malicious gossip and envy of his neighbors. The story is a grim depiction of the destructive power of pride and the often cruel nature of community life, where the failings of one family become a spectacle for public scorn and schadenfreude. The green shutters of the Gourlay's house come to symbolize the envy and the facade of respectability that hide the family's internal decay and disintegration.
The 2763rd Greatest Book of All Time
