The Last Bear

by Mandy Haggith

WINNER of the Robin Jenkins literary award. Set in early medieval Britain, when bloodthirsty Vikings raided and Christianity challenged and suppressed the indigenous pagan ways, this is a compelling and haunting story of power, transformation, love and loss – and of the natural riches of a land still forested, treated with respect by those who lived on it. With evocative description of the beautiful northwestern Highland setting, The Last Bear centres around the extinction of the brown bear around one thousand years ago. It tells of a traditional community and its medicine woman, Brigid, who comes under attack personally and for her shamanic practices by 'modernising' forces – especially a Christian minister who is hell-bent on converting Brigid and her kin to his own faith. From passion and loyalty to an epic struggle and betrayal, will we discover who killed the last bear?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Nature, Scotland

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 29, 2008

Reviews

[Mandy Haggith · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2009, this book won the Robin Jenkins Literary Award for the best writing about environmental themes, and it was Historical Novels Review's book of the month when it was first published. Set a thousand years ago, it is the gripping story of the extinction of the brown bear from Britain, told from the perspective of the people who lived then. At its heart is a tale of cultural change, embodied in a romantic conflict between a Viking man, and the Christian and pagan women who love him. It is set in the northwest Highlands of Scotland, where the last bear was likely to have survived.

[Joshua Raczek · Rating 5 out of 5]

For such a short novel, The Last Bear is packed with different interesting characters, a strong plot line and a very vivid description of the natural world.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"A haunting, compelling novel set one thousand years ago in the remote northwest Highlands of Scotland, The Last Bear recounts a tale of 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 old 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"
~~back cover

This was the Scottish version of The Mists of Avalon: the story of Christianity growing ever stronger and pushing the old religion into dust. It's a shame the author isn't a better writer -- this book could have been lyrical but was only pedestrian, at best.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It was short and sweet - I finished it in a couple of sittings.

The story focuses on the extinction of the last bear in Scotland around the 1st millennium AD, coinciding with the death of a pre-Christian, shamanic belief system of the western Highlands as practiced by our protagonist, the medicine woman Brigid. The cultural change that goes on in the small community of the Braes is also used to highlight the environmental change, mainly deforestation, brought on by man.
I appreciated the story's multicultural blend of Viking, Gaelic and "pre-Gaelic" (Pictish) culture, along with the clash between opposing religions of Christianity, heathenry and Brigid's bear-focused shamanism. I think it's a little unfortunate that once again we see with Dark Age fiction that it is mostly the Christians that are the flawed, hypocritical bad guys, but in this case it serves its purpose quite well as the reader can more acutely mourn the loss of nature and the spiritual way of life with it.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the northwest of Scotland the author uses the story of the last bear to highlight the changes occurring in the world one thousand years ago. The early Christian church was spreading into these remote areas and the effect it had was devasting on the established ancient cultures of the time. So many ancient traditions respected women for their wisdom and for their knowledge of the natural world and of healing, and the changes that occurred then are still apparent today. A thoroughly engaging read highlighting the great losses of wisdom and culture so desperately needed nowadays.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story tellers tale of old times and real things. Morals, fortitude, self-importance, jealousy, greed and plain stupidity. Our forebears were no different to us. Centred on the wrangle between the church and the old ways, the past and the future, the natural world and the man made one and a disastrous decision which has implications for the whole settlement. This novel is an engrossing story and a warning we need to heed.

[Fiona Bromelow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the language of the book and found some of it quite moving but I don’t know that there’s really much evidence that pagan society, particularly for women, was really much better than the “new” Christian faith. In short I enjoyed the book but didn’t find it believable

[Louise Hewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel, which drew me straight into a world I have often wondered about. An easy poetic read, evocative, and moving, I found I could hardly put it down.

[Elizabeth Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

This book grabbed me from the beginning to the very end. Incredibly well written, with a very interesting story. I highly recommend it.

[LaDawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical. Like poetry and song. As I have always imagined the old world.

[Ruth Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought for me as a present. Couldn't put it down. Set in the Highlands, its a spiritual read, moving and disturbing. Went on to buy her Celtic saga trilogy.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of loss however I liked how the story showed people are not just one thing and the descriptions of the forest.

[Alette J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well researched piece of historical fiction (with a smattering of the fantastical) set in Scotland around 1000 AD. Some good characters, particularly Brigid and the she-bear, but ultimately a bit too heavy handed with the Christian vs. Pagan theme.