I desperately wanted to like this book - having really enjoyed the authors previous works and it started really strongly. The story of Robert (Bobby) MacBryde, and Robert Colquhoun, who met at Glasgow Art School in the 1930s. Instantly drawn to each other, they are passionate artists, and totally in love with the other. this first section of the book where they first meet, and start at the college is wonderful.
For me the novel drifts at this stage, as they travel to Europe and then on to London. They build their careers, and mix with anyone and everyone in the Art World. I started to lose track of who all the supporting characters were, and what the Roberts were up to next.
This is a book that re-imagines real life characters and their stories. It really does merge fact with fiction, and whilst I would love to find out more about their lives and discover their art, I was left a bit so-so about this novel.

This is an excellent book. I had never heard of the artists before but I have been busy researching their lives since starting the book. I have a huge admiration for Damian Barr, he is a wonderful writer as well as a staunch advocate for other writers. This book is written wonderfully, almost poetically at times. You get a sense of time and place throughout the book and he really brings the characters of Bobby and Robert to life. I loved the Glasgow setting as I am familiar with the area, I found myself rewatching the Ken Russell documentary after it is depicted in the book and watching it with a different perspective.
Really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it.

I loved reading the story of the two Roberts. Im from Scotland but had heard nothing about them so found the whole thing incredibly interesting. Obviously its the researched facts of their lives (as much as was recorded) spliced with some of the writers imagined accounts of how the relationship was between the two men
Overall I thought it was a really well written and touching account of the careers and relationship of two really interesting men in a time when they couldn't freely be themselves.
Thanks to Canongate, Damian Barr and NetGalley for the ARC.

THE TWO ROBERTS by Damian Barr is the reimagined story of two Scottish painters, Robert MacBryde (Bobby) and Robert Colquhoun, and their lifelong entanglement with art, with success and failure, and with each other.

I was angling for an IN MEMORIAM of sorts with this one, given the ominous presence of war and two young men coming of age in the most tumultuous of times.

And for a while, I reaaallly thought I had it.

The first half of the book is exquisite. Their time at Glasgow School of Art, their burgeoning love story- Barr captures humanity in its truest form, set against the inhumanity of poverty, depression, and war.

But alas… as the story goes on, my interest started to wane. Because the novel spans such a wide stretch of time, it all started to feel a bit superficial. I would have happily stayed in those early days, but admittedly I might have appreciated what Barr chose to do instead if I were already familiar with the artists.

Damian Barr’s The Two Roberts is a moving and beautifully written portrait of the real-life love and artistic partnership between Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun. From their first meeting at the Glasgow School of Art in the 1930s, Barr traces their journey through artistic acclaim, bohemian circles, and the challenges of living as a queer couple in a time of secrecy and repression.

The novel blends meticulous historical detail with deep emotional insight, capturing both the creative energy of the postwar art world and the tenderness of a relationship shaped by both passion and hardship. I especially appreciated how Barr gives voice to a story that history nearly erased, while still making space for imagination and hope.

This is a powerful, generous novel—rich in character, atmosphere, and care. It’s one of the most affecting historical novels I’ve read in a long time.

Started so well, I was beginning to think I was getting a crossover of two great books - Shuggie Bain - poor boys in Glasgow and - In Memoriam - gay romance during war times. I was even wondering is this going to be the book everybody is going to be talking about this year.

I thought the first half set up the tale well, I was reading slowly so I could enjoy the evolving lives of these two great artists. But boy, was I disappointed - I ended up not liking them. I recall feeling like this about James Joyce after reading Nuala O’Connor’s Nora. They were so wrapped up in themselves and their partying ways, they ended up penniless couch surfers.

THEN…. I read the author’s note at the back and realised these were two real people. And whilst it is a story of fiction, it does take known biographical details from the two real Roberts. And I can see what interested Barr in this story, and he did give an alternate fictional ending, which made me love this piece of work.

It’s a genre, I’ve come across a lot lately (most notably Martina Devlin’s Charlotte) where a fictional story is created around known real biographical facts. I find it a very enjoyable way to learn about historical characters (understanding what is fiction and what isn’t).

I was GIFTED a free digital review copy from Canongate Books via @netgalley and it is published on 4 September. I look forward to seeing what other readers think.

#TheTwoRoberts
#NetGalley

This book couldn't be closer to my interests and unfortunately this one was a DNF for me (around the 15% mark). This is actually one of my first DNFs due to writing style, so this is very much a stylistic preference but I couldn't quite immerse myself in the writing style. For much of the book (apart from a flashbacks) it is written in present tense with short, snappy sentences. I think I struggled with this because I was already familiar with the artists and queerness pre-1967 in Britain. So the more simplistic structure didn't provide enough of a story to keep me interested. Having said that, I think this would be a fascinating read for those who are less familiar with the time period.

It’s surely the mark of an excellent novel when, upon finishing, you find yourself so unwilling to leave the characters behind, that you carry on reading and researching everything about them, including the author who brought them to life. Such is my obsession with The Two Roberts.

Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde were two real-life Scottish painters who met at Glasgow School of Art in 1933 and were inseparable for the rest of their lives. For a while, they were the toast of the art world, then they faded into obscurity. Barr has taken what little knowledge exists about them and fictionalised their lives, giving them the true colour and depth they deserve, beyond the “they were just roommates” trope.

Barr writes with the warm, affectionate voice of someone sharing a cherished family story which is being told not only out of habit, but because it still matters. We come to know the two main characters as Bobby and Robert, and they are crafted with such vitality that they feel like old friends, to the point that I can’t believe that the author did not actually live with them. We feel we are there in their student flat, living through every party and every argument. We are there traipsing down the streets of Soho at dawn, hobnobbing with artists, writers, and sailors. We live through their poverty and their pleasures. Barr merges meticulous research with his own inventions to fill in the gaps in their lives with sympathy and beautiful cinematic detail. This novel is crying out for a tv adaptation!

Barr’s love for the two artists is abundantly clear, and I love that he wrote two endings for them: one is obvious, historically accurate and heartbreaking, the other is the ending he wishes they had had, but which is no less devastating, simply because it’s not true.

Read this with a drink in your hand. Something long and unctuous. You need to savour it along with Barr’s writing which will leave you with the quiet, lingering warmth of a late summer evening. It’s just glorious.

This was the first time I’ve read a book by Damian Barr but it won’t be the last.

I found The Two Roberts to be so beautifully written, skilfully conjuring a time and place immersively, and bringing to life these two characters in an unforgettable way. It’s always a good sign for me when reading something historical that I go and research it while reading, to bring a bit of context to the story. I especially loved the opening chapters when the two young artists meet at Glasgow School of Art and are drawn to each other - as well as drawing each other ;)

The author’s imagining of the dynamic between Bobby and Robert is utterly compelling and believable, their longing and ambition and vulnerability had me gripped throughout. I applaud the decision to focus on their development and not on their decline - there’s already so much stacked against them with laws and attitudes of the time reflected honestly here but in a way that maintains the utmost respect for the real men behind the story.

I enjoyed my journey through the decades and locations depicted here, and the ‘alternative’ ending is heartbreaking.

I’ll be gifting this one to many friends later this year when it’s published - many thanks to the publisher for letting me read an advance copy in return for this honest review.

NO SPOILERS:

Oh.

I know Damian Barr is a great reader but I’m a little ashamed to admit I had no idea he is a great writer…a very great writer. The Two Roberts is a beautifully written, partly imagined love story in a time when love, for many, was forbidden. It’s also a very accessible account of the careers of the two artists. Career, really, just one single, entwined career.

From the first moment Bobby sees Robert to the heartbreaking last breath, I was in their world, adoring them both. Barr writes with pathos and acute understanding, every word the right word, no word wasted and the better ending is how it should have been, how it should always be.

Some sentences really stood out for me:

“Bobby has already committed to memory all the ways Robert occupies space”

“Bread and roses”

“Night creeps in the open door”

“Yet they’re still so obviously and completely obsessed with each other that they make you want to see what they see, to sit close around the embers of a love that still burns far brighter than most and certainly more than their prospects.”

And then this:

“This is a novel filled with biographical and historical facts but it is not bound by them any more than Bobby and Robert were – I’ve tried not to let the truth get in the way of a good story.

So here, finally, is the ending I wish they’d had.”

If you like factual biography, social history and skillful story telling then, heck, it’s a book to read and re-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate for the Advanced Review Copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.

The Two Roberts by Damian Barr is a beautiful read- a story of art, love and survival.

Damian Barr has rightfully so shone the light on two incredible artists who in many ways are hidden away in the footnotes of contemporary art history. Robert MacBryde ( Bobby) and Robert Colquhoun ( Robert) were two incredible Scottish artists who rose to prominence before and during the Second World War.

This is their story- a story of their love- a love forbidden and hidden by society but this is story that celebrates their defiance to be who they were. Bobby being the shining light to embrace life and step boldly where many would have not during the 1930s-1950s. Robert the more recognised as an artist- first in their year of school. But together they shared life- highs and lows.

Their story begins when meeting on their first day of Art School in Glasgow and from then on their destiny was set. This is a story of hardship and success; a story of success and failure but what shines through is their deep love- yes, volatile at time but always realising together they made a whole.

Recounting their early years at college as they discover the gay world of Glasgow and life in the attic with Mrs Cranston- then onto life within WWII. Life in London and entering the flamboyant world of the artists of the time; Anthony Cronin; August John; Francis Bacon; Dylan Thomas and the periphery of the Bloomsbury Group ( "The Bloomsberries") the Two Roberts navigate life with a zest and passion that never fully takes them to heights of their peers.

Life ensues in Sussex and Essex and still they pursue their dreams of recognition.

This is a book that shines a new light on two talented men and with the deserved success of of this novel a retrospective of their work has to happen. What is special is the bond between the two mens- yes, there are tragedies but they remain united and this is what makes the book special in gay literature where often couples separate and harder lessons are learned( that's not to say their life was easy).

The relationship is tender, fragile and will move readers

Damian Barr has written a book that deserves plaudits .

Highly recommended - a moving and warm read that oozes love and compassion and devotion

I must admit that I hadn‘t heard of the artists who are the main characters in this novel before. However, I heard Damien Barr announce this story on social media and was immediately intrigued.
I loved the book. It was raw, it was beautiful and made me feel with and for the characters. I was both entertained and learned a bit about the Glasgow art scene. Very much recommend!

A book based on two real life best friends turned lovers who met at art school in Glasgow in the 1930s and became famous artists for a while only for them to be all but forgotten in present day? Yeah, this book sounded exactly like something I'd love so it's a shame I couldn't get into it and had to DNF.

Afterwards, I skipped around and read a few chapters here and there, including the last one, the epilogue, and the afterword because I kept thinking maybe if I'd kept going, I'd eventually get into it but sadly that wasn't the case.

I found the writing style odd and I didn't really gel with it. The randomly changing POVs (of the two main characters, an omniscient narrator, and occasionally side characters) was strange and didn't work for me.

While the author states in the afterword that he "tried not to let the truth get in the way of a good story", the parts I read definitely seemed to lean more on real historical events rather than making for a compelling narrative story or romance.

The book was clearly well researched but perhaps it would've been better to have used all this knowledge and research for a biography about the two artists instead.

I'll be honest, I expected to like this book. I really admire Damian Barr, especially for the way he promotes other authors and public libraries through his work. And I have read and enjoyed his previous novel. But The Two Roberts is even better than I thought it would be! I loved it!

I am not especially interested in art or artists and you do not need to be to read this book. It is about so much more. The novel follows Bobby and Robert as they make their way firstly through the Glasgow School of Art and then through their professional lives. The two Roberts were real people, so their meeting at school was factual. Beyond that the line between fiction and non fiction is very blurred - the narrative felt very real to me, all of it, the successes, the failures, the people and the prejudice.

At the end of the novel Barr explains some of the distinction between fact and fiction. He then provides an alternative ending - the one he wished had happened. This was such a lovely, personal addition and not something I have seen an author do before. The whole book was so well written and I was so absorbed in the story of these two men that I had to google their art when I had finished reading.

Highly recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Two Roberts is a love story at its heart, taking in the relationship between Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun - two artists of the Glasgow school before the war that I was completely unaware of until Damian Barr talked about them on social media. I’m so glad he’s chosen to bring their story to life in all its messiness - the art, the difficulty of living as a gay couple before legalisation, the messy sex, the war, the heady world of art and literature and alcohol. This novel is absorbing even for an artistic Philistine like me - there is some technical language but it’s mainly emotion and bowls of buttons. Love it

Loved this, Barr has a way of taking you to the time his books are set he does so with heart and humour some truly beautiful writing a great reimagined story

I had heard of one of these artists before and was intrigued by the relationship between the two Roberts. The details of the galsgow School of Art and of the deprivations of the time were good. I understand a lot of source documents were used for accuracy. But what is evident is that, like any historical biography, especially in novel format, most is made up even though structured by what we know about these people. I found the actual writing rather simplistic. Lots of imagined dialogue. I wanted something more literary than this. There were no phrases to highlight and little real humour.

In the end I found it dull and thought I could have got this from Wikipedia. I like Damian Barr and his Scottish Book Club series on tv so was disappointed.

I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers.

As he mentions in his acknowledgements, Damian Barr’s novel grew out of a fascination with Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun after he spotted a social media post during lockdown. The two Roberts as they came to be known, were working class Scottish artists who had met on their first day at the Glasgow School of Art in 1933, falling in love at a time when homosexuality was against the law.
Bobby, as MacBryde was known, is the extrovert, a performer whose open gestures of affection make the buttoned-up Robert nervous. Both are immensely talented, standing out from their privileged peers and catching the eye of their tutor. When Robert wins the top position in their class and with it a travelling scholarship, Bobby’s second is so close he’s also awarded a grant. Their adventure begins in Paris, then Italy before it’s cut short by the impending war but not before laying the foundations of a life together that will see them feted by rich patrons, poverty stricken and homeless, their work bought by New York’s MOMA, then sinking into obscurity, all the time loving each other, fighting, drinking and working ceaselessly.
The Two Roberts is a gorgeous, immersive love story that introduced me to two artists whose work in their heyday was compared to Braque and Picasso. It’s also a love letter to Glasgow, vividly evoked, not least Mackintosh’s School of Art. Barr unfolds the their story with such skill that it never feels weighed down by his meticulous research, writing about them both with tender affection while never losing sight of the self-destructive behaviour induced by alcohol. It’ll come as no surprise that their ending was not a happy one but, after pointing out in his Afterword that The Two Roberts is a work of fiction, Barr gives them, and us, the ending he’d wished they’d had making me quite tearful.

I absolutely loved this book. One of the best books I've read in ages. From the very begining I was invested in their story and wanted to know more. The book is written with real humanity, warmth, generosity towards all the characters who were so real I thought I was in Glasgow with them. There's humour, love and also a deep sadness that people were not allowed to be their true selves and were forever trying to hide their real personas. It felt like the author was there with them witnessing their lives and writing it all down for us all to enjoy. Morris was great and brought a smile to my face. All the characters are well crafted, three dimensional and very believable and the book certainly does immense justice to their story. I simply adored the other ending. It was just the icing on the cake. I'm so pleased I got an ARC. Another book I will buy a hard copy of when it's published