… in the UK’s first – and £5,000 – prize for an environmental book – The Last Bear  by Mandy Haggith.

Mandy Haggith was presented with the prize yesterday evening, by Culture Minister, Michael Russell, at the Edinburgh Book Festival Studio Theatre. The prize is sponsored by Forestry Commission Scotland for whom Robin Jenkins once worked.

Sopeaking of the event, Russell Bruce, Chair of the Award, said: ‘The Edinburgh sun shone, the evening shadows lengthened and they smiled and smiled and we hadn’t even opened the wine. They just seemed all so pleased for Mandy and their own achievement in the Robin Jenkins Award. John (RJ) would have loved them all’.

The photograph above backs up Russell’s memory. It shows, left to right: Linda Cracknell, Doubling Back: Ten Paths Trodden in Memory; Louisa Gairn, Ecology of Modern Scottish Literature;  Myrtle and Philip Ashmole, The Carrifran Wildwood Stor;, Michael Russell, Minister for Culture; Mandy Haggith, The Last Bea; Linda Gilliard, Star Gazing. (Missing form the line up of shortlisted writers is Gregory Norminton, Serious Things.)

All of the short-listed books are enticing pieces of writing – and we will be promoting them in various ways over the coming months. In the meantime, here is a short introduction to the winning book and to its author.

The book

‘The Last Bear is as much poem as prose, a lament for the last bear in Scotland, and the human ways of life that died with her.

‘With the imposition of an alien religion the old harmonies are disrupted; the last bear is the final sacrifice of the old order.

‘The book focuses on a pivotal historical moment, yet the results echo on down the centuries: the pain and loss of the last bear is, in fact, our own.’ ( from Margaret Elphinstone)

The Last Bear is a haunting and compelling novel set one thousand years ago in the remote northwest Highlands of Scotland. It tells of an ecological and spiritual crisis from the viewpoint of one extraordinary woman.

Taking the story of the extinction of the brown bear as its focal point, a story of love, jealousy, family and faith unfolds as Brigid, the last in a long line of medicine women, tries to live out her life in a time of upheaval without losing her cultural roots.

Her personal struggle is set against a transforming world, as powerful Viking families clash with Celts and the ancient pagan beliefs are challenged by Christian faith – changes that reach even into the timeless depths of the forest.

Haggith weaves evocative descriptions of the natural world into a narrative that binds the characters ever more tightly into intrigue. Who killed the last bear in Scotland, and with what consequences?

The author

Mandy Haggith first studied Philosophy and Mathematics, then Artificial Intelligence and spent years struggling to write elegant computer programs that could help to save the planet.(Now there’s a philosopher’s stone.)

A decade ago she left academia to pursue a life of writing and revolution, and has since travelled all over the world, researching forests and the people dependent on them – and campaigning for their protection.

In 2003, she returned to Glasgow University to study for an MPhil in Creative Writing, which she completed with distinction.

The Last Bear, her first book-length collection of poetry, is also published by Two Ravens Press.

Mandy Haggith is a freelance writer, researcher and activist, living on a woodland croft in Assynt, in the Scottish Highlands.

She has spent the past decade campaigning for the world’s forests, including lobbying at the United Nations, working as a consultant for Greenpeace and WWF and writing articles for Pulp and Paper International and Resurgence magazine.

After the announcement of her win, Mandy said: ‘I’m delighted that the spirit of Robin Jenkins’ work is being kept alive through this award.

‘My novel looks back a thousand years, seeking to understand why we destroyed our woods and to contemplate a society that lived alongside bears.

‘Re-establishing our forests is not just about planting trees – it’s also about nurturing a culture that is closer to nature.I am thrilled that the story of The Last Bear has been recognised as part of that effort’.

And the judges

An air of tense anticipation imbued the Studio Theatre at the Edinburgh International Book Festival as author, journalist and broadcaster Brian Morton welcomed the audience and assured those shortlisted for the Robin Jenkins Award that he would endeavour to make the proceedings as painless as possible for them. Sitting in the reserved seats at the front they smiled valiantly.

The other three judges, Professor Isabel Murray, Alan Taylor and Katie Wood were seated on the platform. Brian thanked Forestry Commission Scotland, sponsors of the £5000 Award to highlight the connection of forestry and the environment as an inspiration to modern writers in Scotland. He then recalled one of the first stories he had written as a young boy, a historical story of people living over a thousand years ago, existing on potatoes, and assured the audience none of the books shortlisted had made such mistakes and all had been very well researched.

He spoke briefly, and warmly, about his friend, and former English teacher at Dunoon Grammar School, John Robin Jenkins before, in the eminently skillful manner expected of this seasoned broadcaster, conducting a conversational question and answer session with his fellow judges.

This was designed to bring out the criteria for the award, the environment, trees and forestry in Scotland, and their thoughts on how these had been met by the submissions. Comparisons with other authors such as Lewis Grassick Gibbon and Hermann Hesse were mentioned as the judges gave their impressions, the critical discussion lightened by elements of humour and some dissention between judges about whether one particular book by Jenkins had been one of his best or one of his worst.

Michael Russell, Minister for Culture, recounted giving the first Robin Jenkins Memorial lecture at Cowalfest in 2005 and his unveiling of a sculpture, commissioned by Cowalfest, in Benmore Botanic Garden in 2007. Certificates were handed out to all the shortlisted authors before the envelope containing the title of the winning entry was opened, the Last Bear by Mandy Haggith, published by Two Ravens Press. Mandy then gave a short  and moving reading from her work.

Speaking about the award, Minister for Culture Michael Russell said: ‘The Robin Jenkins Award celebrates the close links between Scotland’s natural heritage and our culture and I was delighted to present Mandy with the first ever award and to hear her eloquent recital of the winning work.

‘Jenkins truly is one of the greatest novelists and this award is a fitting tribute, which not only highlights the key role nature has had in shaping our culture, but I hope, reawakens interest in Jenkins’.

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