Wonder how Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and co got to be the drugged-up life-rejecting Leith loons in Trainspotting? Well, wonder no more, as the publication of Skagboys brings us a bit more background on the individual and social circumstances revolving around them in the 1980s. And there may well be a few surprises along the way.

Renton cracks under the pressure of being the first person in his family to go to university; being spoiled as a child leads Sick Boy to try and control everyone he encounters; Begbie climbs the ladder of hardnuts to become a ruthless soul; Spud struggles after losing his job as a removal man.

Welsh has spoken of the affection he holds for these boys, his ‘old pals’ who helped put him on the literary map, but the book will also seek to analyse just how parts of Edinburgh became so embroiled and trapped in the supply of heroin.

Out Thu 19 Apr.