Robin Jenkins (writer)
Encyclopedia
Robin Jenkins OBE was a Scottish
writer of about thirty novels, the most celebrated being The Cone Gatherers
.
Robin Jenkins was born John Robin Jenkins in Flemington near Cambuslang
in 1912; his father died when John was only seven years old and he and his three siblings were brought up by his mother in straitened circumstances. However, he won a bursary to attend the former Hamilton Academy
then a famous fee-paying school . The theme of escaping circumstances through education at such a school was to form the basis of Jenkin's later novel Happy for the Child (1953) Winning a scholarship, he subsequently studied Literature at the University of Glasgow
, graduating in 1936. During the Second World War, he registered as a conscientious objector
and was sent to work in forestry (a theme that would re-appear in The Cone-Gatherers). Upon the release of his first novel, So Gaily Sings the Lark in 1951, he shortened his writing name to 'Robin Jenkins'.
In the early years of his writing career, Jenkins worked as an English and History teacher. In the 1950s, he taught at Riverside Senior Secondary in Glasgow's East End and later moved with his family to Dunoon where he taught at the prestigious Dunoon Grammar School
. He also spent four formative years at the Gaya School in Sabah, Borneo, living there with his wife May and their children. Before that, he had held British Council
teaching posts in both Kabul and Barcelona.
His best-known novel, The Cone Gatherers
, is based upon his forestry work as a conscientious objector and is often studied in Scottish schools. While The Cone Gatherers has been criticised as being devoid of any real sense of place, other novels such as The Thistle and the Grail, his 1954 football story, paint vivid pictures of more accessible settings. His writing typically touches on many themes, including morality, the struggle between good and evil, war, class and social justice. Just Duffy is another of his novels which focuses on such themes, in a style which has been compared to that of the earlier Scottish writer, James Hogg.
Jenkins was awarded the OBE in 1999 and in 2003 received the Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun prize from the Saltire Society
for his lifetime achievement. His portrait, by Jennifer McRae, is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland. The Robin Jenkins Literary Award has been established in his name.
Robin Jenkins died in 2005, aged 92; his novel The Pearl Fishers being published posthumously in 2007.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
writer of about thirty novels, the most celebrated being The Cone Gatherers
The Cone Gatherers
The Cone Gatherers is a novel by the Scottish writer Robin Jenkins, first published in 1955.The background to the novel comes from Jenkins' own wartime experience as a conscientious objector doing forestry work....
.
Robin Jenkins was born John Robin Jenkins in Flemington near Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
in 1912; his father died when John was only seven years old and he and his three siblings were brought up by his mother in straitened circumstances. However, he won a bursary to attend the former Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
then a famous fee-paying school . The theme of escaping circumstances through education at such a school was to form the basis of Jenkin's later novel Happy for the Child (1953) Winning a scholarship, he subsequently studied Literature at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, graduating in 1936. During the Second World War, he registered as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
and was sent to work in forestry (a theme that would re-appear in The Cone-Gatherers). Upon the release of his first novel, So Gaily Sings the Lark in 1951, he shortened his writing name to 'Robin Jenkins'.
In the early years of his writing career, Jenkins worked as an English and History teacher. In the 1950s, he taught at Riverside Senior Secondary in Glasgow's East End and later moved with his family to Dunoon where he taught at the prestigious Dunoon Grammar School
Dunoon Grammar School
Dunoon Grammar School is a secondary school in Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland. It was founded in 1641.It is currently a non-denominational comprehensive school which covers all stages from S1 to S6 .-Building:...
. He also spent four formative years at the Gaya School in Sabah, Borneo, living there with his wife May and their children. Before that, he had held British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
teaching posts in both Kabul and Barcelona.
His best-known novel, The Cone Gatherers
The Cone Gatherers
The Cone Gatherers is a novel by the Scottish writer Robin Jenkins, first published in 1955.The background to the novel comes from Jenkins' own wartime experience as a conscientious objector doing forestry work....
, is based upon his forestry work as a conscientious objector and is often studied in Scottish schools. While The Cone Gatherers has been criticised as being devoid of any real sense of place, other novels such as The Thistle and the Grail, his 1954 football story, paint vivid pictures of more accessible settings. His writing typically touches on many themes, including morality, the struggle between good and evil, war, class and social justice. Just Duffy is another of his novels which focuses on such themes, in a style which has been compared to that of the earlier Scottish writer, James Hogg.
Jenkins was awarded the OBE in 1999 and in 2003 received the Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun prize from the Saltire Society
Saltire Society
The Saltire Society was established in 1936 to encourage everything that might improve the quality of life in Scotland and restore the country to its proper place as a creative force in European civilisation....
for his lifetime achievement. His portrait, by Jennifer McRae, is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland. The Robin Jenkins Literary Award has been established in his name.
Robin Jenkins died in 2005, aged 92; his novel The Pearl Fishers being published posthumously in 2007.
External links
- BBC page on Robin Jenkins
- Brian Mortons' appreciation of Jenkins' life
- Iain Crichton SmithIain Crichton SmithIain Crichton Smith was a Scottish man of letters, writing in both English and Scottish Gaelic, and a prolific author in both languages...
's 'Scotnote' on 'The Cone Gatherers' http://asls.org.uk/Scotnotes - The Robin Jenkins Award web site