Goodbye, Mr Dixon

Goodbye, Mr Dixon

A would-be novelist has poured his life into a character he can't finish — until a real woman changes everything.

About the Ebook

The titular Mr Dixon is not the novel's main character but the creation of the novel's main character, Tom Spence. Spence describes himself as "an embryo novelist"; he has had the odd job - for example, delivering mail - but is largely without skills and has bet all on his career as a writer. Unfortunately he has "never brought a novel to a successful conclusion" never mind had one published, and, unable to live the dream, has instead dreamed it through his protagonist, Drew Dixon. His novel has ground to a halt because he has decided Dixon will "meet a girl of twenty-five or thereabouts whose entry into his world was to change his life" but has no idea how to write it.

 Fortuitously he meets a young woman, Ann, and, as their relationship develops we begin to sense that it will be Spence's life that is changed rather than Dixon's. As Spence's isolation ends he revisits his past, attempting to contact the mother he hasn't seen in years and returning to his old school to see the English teacher who he believes encouraged him to write. Increasingly his admiration for Dixon turns to hatred and Spence is forced to choose between life and art.

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• A wry, psychologically acute novel about the relationship between life and art
• Explores what happens when an imagined life becomes less real than the one being ignored
• Iain Crichton Smith at his most playful and most searching
• Read another celebrated title from Polygon - an imprint of Birlinn Ltd

About the Author

Iain Crichton Smith (1928 – 1998) was born in Glasgow, brought up on Lewis, and attended university in Aberdeen. After working as a teacher in Clydebank and Dumbarton, he taught at the High School in Oban until he took early retirement in 1977. He was the recipient of many literary awards and received an OBE in 1980. His widow, Donalda, still lives in Taynuilt, where the couple moved after their marriage in 1977.

Publication Details

Publisher: Polygon (an imprint of Birlinn Ltd)

Publication Date: 15 April 2015

Print Length: 207 pages (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9780857907349

Format: Ebook

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access my ebook?

Download The Grey Hill App and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.

Can I read it online?

Yes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at reader.thegreyhill.com.

I can't see my ebook — what should I do?

Tap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.

Can I gift this ebook?

Yes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: Buy a Gift Card. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.