In The Flight of Gemma Hardy, Gemma inquires Vicky about what happened to Nell’s mother, who was also Mr. Sinclair’s sister, Alison. Vicky explains to her that Alison had gotten into a horse riding accident and that, after being incapable of riding a horse again, “she couldn’t stand the island” and moved to Glasgow where she “started to live a different sort of life, singing in pubs, who knew what else” (Livesey 172). Gemma also learns from Mr. Sinclair that this is where Alison became addicted to painkillers (Livesey 219).

Starting in 1952, when Dr. Tom Honeyman purchased the painting, “Christ of St John of the Cross” by Salvador Dali, the city of Glasgow began to transform and began to develop and improve (McKay). Post-war, Saturday nights in Glasgow “were always a triumph of hope over experience” (Wishart). Citizens' love of cinema was reignited at this time, as did the city’s love of theater and music (Wishart). In 1957, the city had also begun to fight tuberculosis cases by implementing a successful mass X-ray campaign (McKay). There were also political shifts in the second half of the century, where in 1950, “the political majority in Glasgow Corporation lay with the Progressives, officially owing allegiance to no political party, but consisting largely of Conservatives” (McKay).

 It seems as if around 1950 marked a turning point in Glasgow, as the city began to open itself up to become a cultural and artistic hub. This would particularly make sense in this post-war setting of the novel. The mention of Alison “singing in pubs” in Glasgow aligns with the picture painted of Glasgow as a celebratory, weekend night scene post-war. Glasgow seems to contrast with the quietness of the island–where Glasgow was exploding in celebration and transformations at this time, which Alison seemed to start to take part in.

Works Cited

Livesey, Margot. The Flight of Gemma Hardy. New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 2012.

McKay, Johnston. “Modern Times: 1950s to The Present Day.” TheGlasgowStory, https://www.theglasgowstory.com/story/?id=TGSF0. 

Wishart, Ruth. “Everyday Life.” TheGlasgowStory, https://www.theglasgowstory.com/story/?id=TGSFA. 

Image Citation:

“Glasgow in the 1950s.” GlasgowTimes, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18957813.stunning-glasgow-photos-195.... Accessed 18 Feb. 2022.