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'Stuart Murdoch has made the transition from gifted songwriter to splendid author. Nobody's Empire is a marvellous coming of age novel.' ROBERT FORSTER

From the West Coast of Scotland to the West Coast of America, the life-affirming debut by the Belle and Sebastian frontman.

Glasgow, early 1990s, and Stephen - music-loving romantic - has emerged from a hospital stay, diagnosed with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a little-understood disease. He meets fellow strugglers, for whom the world seems to care less and less, and they form their own support group as they try to navigate their lives.

Starting to write songs, albeit in a slow and fledgling way, Stephen wakes to the possibility of a spiritual and artistic life. Leaving Glasgow in search of the mythic warmth of California, he and his friend Richard float between hostels, sofas and park benches. Could the trip offer them both a new beginning?