The Blade Artist by Irvine Welsh – Reviewed by Guy Portman
Reformed Scottish ex-con Jim Francis (formerly Franco Begbie) is now a successful sculptor living the dream in sunny California with his former prison art therapist now trophy wife and their two children. But when a tragic event unfolds back in his hometown of Leith, Edinburgh, he feels compelled to return to his old stomping ground. There he must face the very different life he left behind. Will Jim stay restrained, off the booze and away from the violence that was the scourge of his younger self? The intricate and graphic story that ensues is replete with flashbacks and memories from Begbie’s youth.
The complex and manipulative protagonist, sordid characters and squalid descriptions will appeal to fans of the Transgressive genre. This reader found the contrast between the Californian dream and the underbelly of Scottish society to be extremely effective, and often humorous.
The text is replete with the author’s trademark idiosyncrasies. These include the absence of speech marks and an abundance of Leith vernacular. One element of the novel that some may find difficult is reconciling the Franco of this text with the markedly different Franco of Trainspotting fame. However, if one treats The Blade Artist as a standalone work, this will not prove to be an issue.
