A novelist who grew up in Ferguslie Park is set to publish a new historical novel exploring love, identity and social pressure in 20th century Glasgow.
June Russell Laing, who was raised in Paisley, has written The Price of Fealty, a work of historical fiction set between 1940 and 1985.
The novel follows two friends, Beryl and Rhea, who grow up in the Gorbals during a period shaped by poverty, violence and rigid social expectations. As their relationship deepens, fear of scandal and rejection forces decisions that have lasting consequences.
The book examines queer identity, class division and the pressures faced in conservative working-class communities in mid-20th century Scotland.
June Russell Laing said her upbringing and academic background strongly influenced her writing.
She said: “Growing up in Ferguslie Park I’m fascinated by the hold stubbornly conservative working class communities exert and how people either accept their tribe’s restrictions or break free and seek a new identity.
“Also, I studied Philosophy at university and was surprised at how people regard the subject as strictly academic, fully abstracted from ‘real life’. I wanted to incorporate chewy philosophical moral and ethical dilemmas into everyday stories of ‘real’ people and – ideally – facilitate lively book club discussion.”
The Price of Fealty will be published on 28th February 2026 by The Book Guild, with a recommended retail price of £9.99.
Photo: Author June Russell Laing ahead of the publication of her historical novel The Price of Fealty, set in Glasgow between 1940 and 1985