The Last Heathen
Encyclopedia
The Last Heathen: Encounters with Ghosts and Ancestors in Melanesia is a book by Charles Montgomery
, published in Canada by Douglas and McIntyre in 2004. In 2006 it was published in the United States by HarperCollins
as The Shark God.
The Last Heathen is the autobiographical account of the author in his journey to Melanesia
, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Bishop Henry Montgomery, and to study the effect of his great-grandfather's religion on the people. Montgomery traveled to Melanesia expecting to find a volatile mixture of the tribal, pagan religion and Christianity. He found a comfortable hybrid instead, the two religions living in harmony. The book details his journey as well as his discoveries, from an atheistic point of view.
The book won the Charles Taylor Prize
for Literary Non-fiction in 2005. The book has also won the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize
.
Charles Montgomery
Charles Montgomery is an award-winning Canadian writer and photojournalist.Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, he spent his formative years on a farm on Vancouver Island, and was educated at the University of Victoria and Langara College. Montgomery began his career at the Lillooet Bridge...
, published in Canada by Douglas and McIntyre in 2004. In 2006 it was published in the United States by HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
as The Shark God.
The Last Heathen is the autobiographical account of the author in his journey to Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Bishop Henry Montgomery, and to study the effect of his great-grandfather's religion on the people. Montgomery traveled to Melanesia expecting to find a volatile mixture of the tribal, pagan religion and Christianity. He found a comfortable hybrid instead, the two religions living in harmony. The book details his journey as well as his discoveries, from an atheistic point of view.
The book won the Charles Taylor Prize
Charles Taylor Prize
The Charles Taylor Prize is a Canadian literary award, presented by the Charles Taylor Foundation to the best Canadian work of literary non-fiction. It is named for Charles Taylor, a noted Canadian historian and writer....
for Literary Non-fiction in 2005. The book has also won the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize
Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize
The Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize, established in 1985, is awarded annually as the BC Book Prize for the best non-fiction book by a resident of British Columbia, Canada.-1985:David Ricardo Williams – Duff: A Life in the Law...
.