Portobello in Literature

Gedge · Post by **Gedge** » 05 Nov 2004, 13:42

Read a couple of books in the last few months featuring Portobello. In The Fanatic by James Robertson the "hero" goes down to the shows at the end of the book. And I've just finished Maggie O'Farrell's latest (if you haven't read "After You'd Gone" you really ought) in which the final romantic meeting takes place on Portobello beach.

Any more literary Portobello references that people are aware of?

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 05 Nov 2004, 14:01

Presume you mean apart from in Rebus books where he talks about how run down we are and full of drugs etc?!

Mimpty · Post by **Mimpty** » 05 Nov 2004, 14:06

I read "After you'd gone" awhile ago. I really enjoyed it.

Rebus' girlfriend lived in Portobello, didn't she?

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 05 Nov 2004, 15:46

There's a detective story from the 70's called "Murder at the Festival" (or something like that), by a chap with an Italian surname, which has the hero meeting someone in a cafe on the prom. If I ever manage to unpack all my boxes and disinter it, I'll give you the full details! It's fairly 70's, and not very good, but the Porty prom. in the rain bits are good!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 05 Nov 2004, 17:33

Presume you mean apart from in Rebus books where he talks about how run down we are and full of drugs etc?!

That bugs me too especially as Ian Rankin once told me (note the subtle name dropping!) that he really enjoyed his Sunday strolls along Porty prom with his family.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 05 Nov 2004, 17:40

I love living in Portobello but I would feel on weak ground trying to defend the fact that it is not run down. There are parts of it that need a massive injection of capital - it's the way it is.
As Morrissey says 'It's the seaside town that forgot to close down'

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 05 Nov 2004, 17:58

I love living in Portobello but I would feel on weak ground trying to defend the fact that it is not run down.

But give a dog a bad name and all that.....

PS Porty don't even go there!

CatzVP · Post by **CatzVP** » 05 Nov 2004, 22:47

IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve missed Portobello, especially Bath Street ever since I left, most people were much friendlier than...well.... most parts of North America. DidnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t know how lucky I was in Porty, until I moved!

Books are just books, who cares what other people think. Its what you think that counts!! and lets face it, Portobello isn't exactly cheap when it comes to housing....so its not really impoverished and rundown