An agnostic bishop, a scientist and a ex-atheist with a fascination for a clerical killer will be exploring the many faces of death at Wigtown Book Festival.
Former Bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway, forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black and literary critic Stuart Kelly will discuss various aspects of the one inescapable reality that unites all humans.
Black’s new book All That Remainsis the work of someone who has spent her career restoring identities to the dead – including the victims of massacres in Kosovo whose killers made determined efforts to hide their crimes.
In other cases she has helped archaeologists understand the lifestyles of people from many centuries ago.
Black says: “Death has many faces but its commonality is something that exists across all humanity and all time.
“When we are looking at something from the distant past, like the medieval skeletons discovered at Stirling Castle, it’s about people who have been forgotten due to the passage of time. So we are trying to find out what they might have looked like, what they might have done and how they lived.
“With something recent, a mass fatality of some sort, it’s not about lifestyle. We are gathering information from the bodies and relating it to other records about the person.”
Black, whose father played the piano in their local kirk on Sundays, says the book was partly brought about by seeing how her father’s Alzheimer’s damaged his memory, leading to the loss of his stories and knowledge.
She said: “I was asked what sort of book I’d like to write and thought I’d like to record my ideas and experiences for my children, grandchildren and the generations I will never know.”
Like Holloway Black is deeply attached to many Christian ethics but has no belief in an afterlife.
Holloway, whose latest book Waiting for the Last Bushas been described as “radical, joyful and moving”, is concerned that society is “undergoing a great flight from death” – with people trying everything they can from straightforward denial to cryogenics.
He says: “Death is one of nature’s great necessities but it freaks many people out. By denying reality people make themselves more unhappy not less.”
“I meditate on this a great deal myself and it is something I encountered a great deal during my ministry. I spent a lot of time with the dying, I buried a lot of people and have thought a great deal about my own death. It’s something to which I am reconciled.”
Among the sadnesses that he has witnessed have been people dying without being at peace in their hearts, or unreconciled to loved ones where there has been strife. Equally he has seen people dying in a state of terror due to “toxic versions” of religion.
“For those who have a belief and think there is an afterlife, to fear that their God is after them and will cast them into eternal flames is an awful thing,” he says.
Looking to his own experience Holloway says: “I’m not in any rush to go away, but as a man in my 80s I am aware of time. Old age has been one of the most enjoyable times of my life. So much of the nonsense falls away. And when the time comes I hope I will bow out gracefully.”
Unlike his fellow speakers Stuart Kelly’sjourney has been away from atheism and into faith – having recently become a kirk elder. At the same time he has deep concerns about how humans behave during their lives on Earth.
He says: “Our contemporary morals are so shriven and shrunk. We are no longer the best we can be. There must be a way to be more moral. You can’t make a difference by just going on a march. It’s by talking to people.
“Like micro economics there is micro morality. I do not want to change 1,000 people, just a couple would be great.”
His book The Minister and the Murderertakes one of the most extreme and unusual true stories in recent Scottish church history to explore human behaviour and ethics.
It explores the story of James Nelson who murdered his mother in brutal fashion after she allegedly said something “disrespectful” about his girlfriend. After 24 hours on the run he handed himself into the police on Hallowe’en 1969.
Kelly says: “Matricide is a very rare crime – you don’t even get it in the Bible and there are plenty of crimes in there. The exact events and motives were never clear, and some detect the whiff of something sexual.”
After serving time Nelson decided to follow a career as a Church of Scotland Minister – which became the subject of huge debate. In 1986 a parish voted to accept him.
Kelly asks: “Was this a fabulous example of Christianity at its best, welcoming the repentant sinner or were they hoodwinked by a manipulative charlatan?
“The accounts of those who encountered him only deepen the issue. Some said he was superb, a great comfort in times of difficulty and emotional pain. Others found him sly, sarcastic and insolent. Did he change or not. None of us can know. There is one who knows, but God’s not down here to tell us.”
Wigtown Book festival takes place in Scotland’s National Book Town from 21 to 30 September and involves a host of events and activities including theatre, film and music.
Professor Clark, the Wellcome Trust Investigator at the University of Glasgow, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, will also be at the festival to discuss his book Cicely Saunders: A Life and Legacy. Born 100 years ago, Dame Cicely Saunders revolutionised care for the dying, opening the world’s first modern hospice in 1967. Clark discusses his study of a remarkable nurse, social worker, physician and writer, who succeeded in the face of a complex private life and others’ scepticism.
For full details go to wigtownbookfestival.com.
- Festivalgoers will also be warmly invited to attend another colourful regional event – The Kirkcudbright Festival of Light, which will be taking place in Scotland’s Artists’ Town from 5 to 14 October – see kirkcudbrightlight.com.
- The festival is supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council, EventScotland (part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate), Creative Scotland and The Holywood Trust.
- Lovers of crime writing can also enjoy the Bloody Scotland festival in Stirling from 21-23 September. See https://bloodyscotland.com.
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For further information and interview requests contact Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or [email protected]
About Wigtown Book Festival
- The event is for people of all ages and tastes. There is a strong programme for children and young people.
- Among the guests this year are presenter Clare Balding, bestselling author Patrick Gale, comedian Susan Calman, Louis de Bernières, comedian and radio presenter Robin Ince, historian Tom Devine, crime writer Ann Cleeves, actor, writer and comedian Arabella Weir, philosopher John Gray,mountain walker and writer Cameron McNeish and broadcaster and writer Sally Magnusson.
- The festival always puts an emphasis on authors from and books that are relevant to Dumfries and Galloway. Historian Ted Cowan will discuss John Ross of Stranraer’s ill-fated voyage to discover the Northwest Passage, Shaun Bythell talks about his bestselling Diary of a Booksellerone year on and Sara Maitland presents A Pocket Pilgrimage – St Ninian’s Cave.
- Julia Muir Watt will look at Whithorn: An Economy of People, and Mike Morley shares stories of sacrifice and bravery from his book Wigtown Warriors. Meanwhile journalist Stephen Norris explains the unique charm of the Galloway hills and Jessica Fox discusses her re-released memoir Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets, which has now been optioned by a major Hollywood film company.
- There will also be a series of events as special celebrations for the 20th These include panel discussions offering writers’ perspectives on how Scotland has changed in the past two decades and what Europe will look like 20 years from now.
- The festival is supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council, EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, Creative Scotland and The Holywood Trust.
About EventScotland
EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.
EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.orgor for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.
About Year of Young People 2018
- A global first, YoYP 2018 is a part of the Scottish Government’s themed-year programme which focuses on celebrating Scotland’s greatest assets.
- A year-long programme of events and festivals are taking place across the whole of the country for all ages to enjoy, led by EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. More information at www.visitscotland.com/yoyp2018
- Local authorities, schools, youth groups and organisations are running their own YoYP 2018 activity. Search #YOYP2018 on Twitter for the latest news.
- Young people co-designed the Year. A group of young leaders, Communic18, lead on all key decision making.
- The Year is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland – part of the VisitScotland Events Directorate, Young Scot, Scottish Youth Parliament, Children in Scotland, YouthLink Scotland and Creative Scotland.
- More information can be found at yoyp2018.scot, searching @YOYP2018 #YOYP2018 on Twitter or by emailing [email protected]
Wigtown Festival Company Ltd, 11 North Main Street, Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, UK, DG8 9HN © 1999 – 2018. Wigtown Festival Company Ltd is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Scottish Charity No. SCO37984