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The Two Roberts

'Deeply affecting . . . A vivid and moving portrait' The Times

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The Two Roberts

By: Damian Barr
Narrated by: Michael Abubakar
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WATERSTONES AND FOYLES BOOK OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER 2026
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION 2025
SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARD FOR FICTION 2026
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WINSTON GRAHAM PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 2026
LONGLISTED FOR SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2026
LONGLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 2026
A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK
A BEST FICTION BOOK OF 2025 FOR THE GUARDIAN, THE OBSERVER, THE HERALD AND THE BBC

'Crackles with creative rebellion' DOUGLAS STUART
'immersive, intelligent, immensely sensual' ELIF SHAFAK
'A tender and evocative act of resurrection' JAMES CAHILL, SPECTATOR
'The greatest and truest story of two male lovers I have ever read' RUSSELL T DAVIES
'Deeply affecting . . . vivid and moving' PETER PARKER, THE TIMES

He will stay like this forever, Robert’s arm draped round him. They will be forever twenty.

Scotland, 1933. Bobby MacBryde is off to the Glasgow School of Art. On his first day he will meet another Robert, a quiet man with loose dark curls – and never leave his side. With the world on the brink of war, their unrivalled talent takes them all over Europe, partying, loving, fighting, painting. The pair become stars as the bombs fall in this stunningly re-imagined true story of devotion and obsession, art and class.

 20th Century Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Tear-jerking Rome
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Critic reviews

"Barr proves that Glasgow has many stories to tell. A funny, charming book that crackles with creative rebellion. It is a pleasure to read and there is real joy in discovering the forgotten history of these working-class antiheroes" (DOUGLAS STUART)
"Brilliant . . . Immersive, intelligent, immensely sensual" (ELIF SHAFAK)
"A tender and evocative act of resurrection . . . The humour, compassion and tragedy of the story are invested in the incompatible, inseparable characters at its heart" (JAMES CAHILL)
"The Two Roberts is the greatest and truest story of two male lovers I have ever read. A masterpiece. The celebration of these men while staring down their every relentless failing is world class. What an act of the imagination! It’s wonderful, beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring, honest, true, vital and magnificent. They live, they love, they fight, they sing, they fight naked and drunk, this is truly a literary miracle to look at these men and create them anew with such love, but such a tough, cold eye too" (RUSSELL T DAVIES)
"Deeply affecting . . . Barr’s description of the tentative and gradual way the couple’s love for each other evolves is done beautifully . . . A vivid and moving portrait of two fine artists" (PETER PARKER)
"The Roberts live once more! A brilliant and unflinching portrait of love and talent. Spending time in this world, so beautifully filled with detail and atmosphere, was a real pleasure" (GRAHAM NORTON)
"A warm, tender and attentive work - there are deep pleasures in its prose, world-building and sincerity of feeling" (SARAH PERRY)
"We need love stories like these. A stoater of a love story! The two Roberts take up residence in your heart. Utterly absorbing, Damian Barr has pulled off that very difficult thing, to make a historical novel totally contemporary. Yes, it is set in the past but the whole story is very Now. Brilliant" (JACKIE KAY)
"A moving meditation on art, love and home . . . Barr mingles comedy and tragedy with wonderful fluidity"
"A novel that brims over with generosity and warmth"
All stars
Most relevant
Does hard work always pay off when you are in a world where the alleged acceptance of being different still relies on wealth.

We all know the answer.

A love story so brilliantly read of times that are so easily forgotten, the fear of being found out, the forced daily micro corrections.

The writing is so good that even fleeting characters remain on your memory.

A time that art forgot

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This a truly great story told in very evocative way. I was truly absorbed in the Robert's journey for most of the book but slightly lost touch in the middle where there quite a lot more characters introduced. Core characters are painted (no pun intended) very well and the Scottish element sits strongly through the book. The stunner came for me after the conclusion of the novel itself in the epilogue where the writer reflects on the story. This isn't quite at the level of Douglas Stuart and Shuggy Bain and John of John but it's not far off.

Absorbing

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A window into a fascinating time and place in the world elegantly evoked. Tender glimpses into bohemia, poverty, war and deep though tortured forbidden love - and so beautifully read. I hope you too will fall in love as I did.

First and last a love story...

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The simple complexity, Well told, Well written. Remembered fondly and cherished by the reader. Shared without apology.

What an untold love story, told.

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That ending 10/10. Love a tradgic gay story, will be thinking about it for a long long time!
It’s a great fun, real love story and then bang it gets you at the end

The ending wow

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