John Ironmonger Receives Prestigious Fly on the Wall Press Copper Award for "The Wager and the Bear"

Acclaimed poet Yogesh Patel MBE sponsors recognition of outstanding literary work

In its seventh publishing year, Manchester independent publisher Fly on the Wall Press launches a one-off Copper Award, organised by poet Yogesh Patel. John Ironmonger has been honoured with the inaugural Fly on the Wall Press Copper Award, a prestigious recognition that celebrates his climate change novel "The Wager and the Bear" as a publication of exceptional quality and also recognises his seventh publication to date.

Ironmonger's publishing career spans seven remarkable publications, including 'The Whale at the End of the World', an international bestseller, and 'The Notable Brain of Maximilian Ponder' which was a Costa-shortlisted debut. His socially-conscious and climate change centred works mark him as a significant voice in contemporary literature.

Managing Director Isabelle Kenyon, Fly on the Wall Press, said: "Exceptional literature has the power to illuminate truth and inspire change. 'The Wager and the Bear' achieves both, making it a worthy recipient of this recognition. It is rare to find climate fiction with rich, heart-warming characters."

The award, organised by acclaimed poet Yogesh Patel, recognises literature that combines artistic excellence with meaningful engagement on pressing global issues.

This recognition of John Ironmonger's climate-focused storytelling underscores the press's commitment to championing voices that combine compelling narrative with urgent social relevance.

About 'The Wager and the Bear':

When young idealist Tom publicly humiliates politician Monty in a Cornish pub, it sparks a simmering feud that cascades through their intertwined lives. The consequences of their argument, and the deadly wager they strike, will cascade down the decades. Years later, they find themselves a long way from St Piran onto a colossal iceberg drifting south away from Greenland, their only companion a starving polar bear. This is a heart-stopping tale of anger, tragedy, and enduring love, cast against the long unfolding backdrop of an irreversible global crisis.

About Yogesh Patel:

Shortlisted for the Aryamati Prize 2023, Yogesh Patel has received an MBE for literature in the Late Queen's 2020 Honours List. 

Patel’s last collection of poems, The Rapids, a winner of the Finalist Award in the Indie Book Awards, was published by The London Magazine in 2021. Its Italian translation was published in 2023. Internationally celebrated, he edits Skylark and runs Skylark Publications UK, as well as a non-profit Word Masala project to promote literature.