Mandy Haggith
Mandy Haggith lives in Assynt in the northwest Highlands of Scotland, where she combines writing with sailing, environmental activism and teaching – she is a lecturer in literature and creative writing at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Her first novel, The Last Bear, won the Robin Jenkins Literary Award for environmental writing in 2009.
The Lyre Dancers is her fifth novel and the third in the Stone Stories trilogy, which began with The Walrus Mutterer (2018), longlisted for the Highland Book Prize, and continued with The Amber Seeker (2019). Mandy is also the author of three poetry collections, a non-fiction book and numerous essays, and the editor of a poetry anthology.
The Walrus Mutterer
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Buy The Walrus Mutterer
In The Walrus Mutterer, the first volume of this extraordinary, imaginative trilogy, Mandy Haggith takes us back to prehistoric times and opens the way for an intergenerational saga ranging from the Sub-Arctic to the Mediterranean.
Northern Britain, Iron Age. Rian, a carefree young woman known for her healing and cooking skills, is enslaved by a powerful local trader and taken aboard a vessel for a long and perilous voyage. Their quest: to find precious walrus ivory and amber – sources of untold wealth and influence. They’re soon joined by a mysterious, ambitious stranger known as Pytheas the Greek, who claims to be seeking riches from the North to bring back to his native land.
As visceral as it is gripping, The Walrus Mutterer introduces an unforgettable cast of characters. It’s a stunning achievement from an award-winning novelist and poet.
Prizes and awards
Highland Book Prize 2018, LONGLISTED
REVIEWS OF The Walrus Mutterer
“A gripping, haunting and, at times, visceral novel… Lyrical and poetic prose, the author has created a convincing and entirely believable world… One of the best books I have read so far this year.” Penny Ingham, Historical Novels Review (Editors’ Choice)
“Compelling.” Lucinda Byatt, Historical Novels Review
“An immersive evocation of ancient folklore and ritual, this novel’s characterisation and fast pace make it a real page-turner which will keep you hooked.” Scottish Field
“Utterly compelling…beautifully crafted…paints an exquisite pen picture.” Undiscovered Scotland
“Haggith’s woman’s eye view of the Iron Age feels fresh and distinctive.” Alastair Mabbott, Sunday Herald
“An ambitious and imaginative novel … believable and compelling.” Jane Bradley, Scotsman
"A wonderful blend of history and fiction. …The skilful weaving of Celtic folklore and ancient history push the story forward, and Haggith’s lucid language is lilting and comforting … evocative descriptions of the northern seas, unforgiving and relentless … a thoroughly enjoyable read." Udita Banerjee, The Wee Review
"The Walrus Mutterer transported me to an extraordinary Iron Age world that resonated long after the final page - vivid, memorable, and utterly compelling." Helen Sedgwick
"We see what the world was like...for the Iron Age peoples ... Rian is a compelling heroine. Life for her is often harsh, uncompromising and dangerous, and yet she has insights and wisdom that we moderns may well envy." Margaret Elphinstone