On the Edge of a Lifetime is an auto bigraphical novel which covers the author's ten years at a Special Scooh for 'handicapped children' set in the West of Scotland in the early 1950s and '60s, this darkly humerous, frequently moving book describes what the consequences could be for children who attended such a school. Through memorable charac-ters such as the angelic Miss Goldenheart, the embittered Mrs Darksole and the neurotic cleric Fr Mortalsen, we experience the marginalis-ation and personal despair that would often lie beneath the patina of devoted care such institutions portrayed. On the Edge of a Lifetime takes an uncomfortably close look at the frequent iniquities of special education, and, despite the many attempts that have been made to obtain social and educational parity f or the disadvantaged in contemporary society, its commentary ia as relevant today as it would have been four decades ago, for the central issue dealt with here is prejudice. what is it? How does it happen? What are its effects? And what can we do about it? This is an important book in many ways, and one that--despite its oft-en slapstick humour, over the top characters, and occasionally harrow-ing

Author Biography

Dr Frank McGillion is a freelance writer and author who has been published extensively in academic, literary and popular areas. He was born and brought up in Glasgow and his other works include The Leaf: A Novel of Alchemy, The Opening Eye and Blinded by Starlight: A History of the Pineal Gland and Astonomia. He now lives and works in London.