STORIES FOR SURVIVAL RESULTS

Comments by Jeremy Lazelle, Head Judge

Winner – Luke Western, Survivors’ Guilt

“A really stunning piece of writing, with a stark message that is all the more powerful for Luke’s deceptively simple and playful language. Remarkable. That final haunting ‘our hands on the hilt’ will stay with me.”

Runner Up – Alan Hewson, On Wenlock Edge

“A restrained, quietly moving piece – all the more powerful for its lack of sentimentality. Some wonderfully vivid observations: the hare’s clouded eyes; the body heavier than expected – it takes us right there, side by side with the boy as he lives through this subtly poignant, indelibly formative moment.”

Runner Up – Maya Carni, On the Edge

“Who hasn’t sat on a train and wondered about the passengers around us? This is a really sympathetic, perceptive exploration of a moment we will all recognise – and a reminder to all of us that we are not the only ones with complicated inner worlds. Who knew that even had a name?”

We look forward to sharing Alan and Maya’s entries in full,  in the coming weeks. Congratulations to all the writers and thank you to all those who supported this initiative  – we have so enjoyed reading all the entries.

SURVIVORS’ GUILT

by

LUKE WESTERN

Read by Stephen Fry