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Why Weeps the Brogan?
In this futuristic tale set in a world of terrifying spiders, two children face an enigmatic creature, the Brogan.
According to the clock in Central Hall, the date is Wednesday 4 years 81 days from Hostilities—marking another day in Saxon and Gilbert's ritualized existence. Saxon bakes, Gilbert brushes and together they leave their home in The Coffee Shop to collect provisions. Saxon and Gilbert are not, however, the only inhabitants of their world. For among the dust and crumbling pillars roam hordes of terrifying spiders and—even more disturbing—the Brogan.
Winner of the 1989 Whitbread Children's Novel Award. Part of the 1995 Scottish Book Fortnight promotion.
According to the clock in Central Hall, the date is Wednesday 4 years 81 days from Hostilities—marking another day in Saxon and Gilbert's ritualized existence. Saxon bakes, Gilbert brushes and together they leave their home in The Coffee Shop to collect provisions. Saxon and Gilbert are not, however, the only inhabitants of their world. For among the dust and crumbling pillars roam hordes of terrifying spiders and—even more disturbing—the Brogan.
Winner of the 1989 Whitbread Children's Novel Award. Part of the 1995 Scottish Book Fortnight promotion.
103 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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About the author
Hugh Scott
47 books30 followersBiography
I love cats. I love their beautiful faces and ickle tickly tums. I have been owned by many cats, but now only a visiting ginger tom declares possession of me. I don't read my books to him, because he's into mice and sardines in tomato sauce, not spooks and crooks and flukes of nature, or even unnature such as the mighty Gargoyle or the dreadful creeping creature which is Something Watching. My proudest book, of course, is Why Weeps the Brogan? Which won the Children's Whitbread in 1989 and was shortlisted for the McVitie Prize. The Haunted Sand was shortlisted for something, but I can't remember what; it came second to a book that wasn't too bad, I suppose. I love good English; I can't stand sloppy modern drip-speak innit? wot books 'ave as written language, and which supposedly reflects the way kids spea. I don't mind a bit of rebellion in language, but dumb brainless Me am de man is pure stupidity and totally rebarbative in a language which has hundreds of thousands of words which cretins are too lazy to look up and use with clarity and power. To all the worm-brains who think bad spelling, ignorance and foul words make them better than other people, I say buy a dictionary.
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I talk to schools and writing groups about how to write.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 12, 2015
Why Weeps the Brogan? was a spectacle. Simple as that. It's poetic style evokes such a wondrous visualization in my head. With that comes a difficulty to read it, as it is very much grounded in its own world rather than the conventions of ours, following its own rules and not stooping to explain to us. This makes it a peculiar teen book. Most of the teen books explain a lot and abide by our rules, not theirs. That simple difference gives the book and eerie and mysterious quality that matches perfectly with the story.
The chemistry between Gilbert and Saxon are magnificent, their survival techniques strange but interesting. The slow revelations make their story realistic, although bizarre, and makes their actions believable.
Now, the story is quite bizarre. It takes some unexpected turns into bizarro territory, which works absolutely fine.
There's a reason why this won the Whitbread of 1989. It's masterfully told, and it's perfect in its characters, its action, its slow reveal, and everything pretty much.
Overall, it's a definite must read, and for anyone looking for a book that seriously thinks outside of the box, it's for you.
But maybe FX is right, and there is no box...
Why weeps the Brogan?
It sleeps not,
It eats at the dining time,
Speeding on plunging limbs,
Gasping from the shadows,
To rattle, step on step,
And feed beneath the dribbling blue bird.
P.S. 3.2/5 is utter garbage for a book that deserves so much more. To put that into perspective, that's a 64%! You know what deserves a 64%? NOT WHY WEEPS THE BROGAN?!
The chemistry between Gilbert and Saxon are magnificent, their survival techniques strange but interesting. The slow revelations make their story realistic, although bizarre, and makes their actions believable.
Now, the story is quite bizarre. It takes some unexpected turns into bizarro territory, which works absolutely fine.
There's a reason why this won the Whitbread of 1989. It's masterfully told, and it's perfect in its characters, its action, its slow reveal, and everything pretty much.
Overall, it's a definite must read, and for anyone looking for a book that seriously thinks outside of the box, it's for you.
But maybe FX is right, and there is no box...
Why weeps the Brogan?
It sleeps not,
It eats at the dining time,
Speeding on plunging limbs,
Gasping from the shadows,
To rattle, step on step,
And feed beneath the dribbling blue bird.
P.S. 3.2/5 is utter garbage for a book that deserves so much more. To put that into perspective, that's a 64%! You know what deserves a 64%? NOT WHY WEEPS THE BROGAN?!
May 11, 2012
This book was quite different for its time - so it is a little hard to read it now (especially being all grown up) and have the same intensity I experienced at 11.
The main reason why this book was so different (during the "Teenagers should be reading about how not to have sex/drugs/friend" 80s era of adolescent fiction) was that it doesn't give you everything - you don't have neatly packaged up descriptions and explanations of the two characters, who they are and why they're there.
So all I can tell prospective readers is there's two kids, probably siblings, who are stuck in a museum. They can't get out, there's nothing but sand coming in, something bad has happened (triggering an emergency food supply) and they are alone in this museum, except for the very scary spiders and something called the Brogan which terrifies them but they feel a duty to feed.
It can be quite spare, and the way the two kids talk having been isolated together for a few years is distinctive and stilted, so I can see how some readers might not finish it - but if you aren't impressed by American-y fantasy and like to work your imagination a little, it's a creepy and good read.
The main reason why this book was so different (during the "Teenagers should be reading about how not to have sex/drugs/friend" 80s era of adolescent fiction) was that it doesn't give you everything - you don't have neatly packaged up descriptions and explanations of the two characters, who they are and why they're there.
So all I can tell prospective readers is there's two kids, probably siblings, who are stuck in a museum. They can't get out, there's nothing but sand coming in, something bad has happened (triggering an emergency food supply) and they are alone in this museum, except for the very scary spiders and something called the Brogan which terrifies them but they feel a duty to feed.
It can be quite spare, and the way the two kids talk having been isolated together for a few years is distinctive and stilted, so I can see how some readers might not finish it - but if you aren't impressed by American-y fantasy and like to work your imagination a little, it's a creepy and good read.
October 12, 2020
FIL (found in loft). Nowadays the apocalypse is usually environmental; in the 1970s and 80s it was invariably nuclear. This strikingly original and inventive novel is about two young children whose entire world is the coffee shop of the (buried) British Museum and the closest galleries. It’s poetic and quirky and excellent; and out of print. Such are the changes of fashion. But if you do find a copy and an imaginative child to read it, go for it.
January 14, 2018
This is a weird wee book. I picked up a copy after seeing a link to a blog post wondering whatever happened to the author, Hugh Scott, who won the Whitbread for this and was apparently brilliant on school visits. It’s uncompromising and structurally a bit odd, but compelling and the end brought a tear to my eye.
September 12, 2023
SO weird and creepy. I loved it.
May 24, 2011
"Wed 4 Years 81 days from hostilities .... so reads the clock in Central Hall. For Saxon and Gilbert, though, it is just another day in their ritualized indoor existence. Saxon bakes; Gilbert brushes. Together they visit the Irradiated Food Store, guarding against spiders. Among the dusty display cases, however, a far more disturbing creature moves. What is the Brogan ... and why does it weep?"
It was on a search for sad books that this book was recommended to me. After hitting dead ends at all of the local book stores, I was forced to order it online. I read it the moment it arrived and wasn't disappointed, though the ending did catch me off guard and did upset me a bit. Emotionally upset, not "why-did-I-read-that-stupid-book" upset. It isn't a very long book though. At only 112 pages it is a quick read.
Overall, Its a good book that I am happy to have read.
It was on a search for sad books that this book was recommended to me. After hitting dead ends at all of the local book stores, I was forced to order it online. I read it the moment it arrived and wasn't disappointed, though the ending did catch me off guard and did upset me a bit. Emotionally upset, not "why-did-I-read-that-stupid-book" upset. It isn't a very long book though. At only 112 pages it is a quick read.
Overall, Its a good book that I am happy to have read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews