McGonagall, William

Poetic Gems (Duckbacks) (Duckbacks)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Mickle rhymer
Poetic Gems (Duckbacks) (Duckbacks)
William Topaz McGonagall
Manufacturer: Duckworth Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
British & IrishBritish & Irish | Single Authors | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0715631519

Book Description

William McGonagall was known as the Greatest Bad Verse Writer of his age, but was sustained throughout his career as by an invincible belief in his own genius. 'The Tay Bridge Disaster', 'Death of Lord and Lady Dalhousie', and 'Attempted Assassination of the Queen' all passed into recorded Victorian literature and are reproduced in this collection. McGonagall was unrecognised in his own lifetime, but how has many thousands of admirers around the world - including Billy Connelly, who has written an affectionate introduction to the anthology.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Mickle rhymer.......2003-06-16

Great Bard of Tay! 'tis harder than it look
To pen the like of what is written in this book,
Which I venture to say without the least fear of rebuke
Will not for a very long time be overtook.

George Orwell identified good bad poetry such as Kipling's. McGonagall's is bad bad poetry - so bad it's good (and quite inimitable). There is a kind of anti-genius here. He could write vivid and engaging prose in naive style, but he resorted to prose only to introduce his volumes of verse. 'Poetic Gems' is the first of three volumes he produced in the 1870s and 80s, containing among other unprovoked assaults on Euterpe his famous paean 'The Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay' and his even more famous lament when the bridge fell down shortly afterwards. Unkind readers have used the word disaster for both, and some have put two and two together.

One thing you can be sure of: he never consciously wrote an ironic line. With the right publicity, he could play big in Middle America.

Fellow-citizens of Dundee,
Isn't it really very nice
To think of James Scrymgeour trying
To rescue fallen creatures from the paths of vice?

Well, I don't know; but save one for me, Jimmy.
Poetic Gems.   Series 1 & 2
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Poetic Gems. Series 1 & 2
    WILLIAM, McGONAGALL
    Manufacturer: Echo Library
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    AnthologiesAnthologies | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 1406823414

    Book Description

    Includes the famous poem 'The Tay Bridge Disaster' Boreas he did loud and angry bray, And shook the central girders of the Bridge of Tay On the last Sabbath day of 1879, Which will be remember'd for a very long time.
    McGonagall: A Selection
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Exquisite and delightful bad poetry!
    McGonagall: A Selection
    William McGonagall
    Manufacturer: Birlinn Publishers
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    19th Century19th Century | Poetry | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Criticism & Theory | History & Criticism | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    British & IrishBritish & Irish | Single Authors | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    CriticismCriticism | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 1874744114

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Exquisite and delightful bad poetry!.......2000-07-23

    This book is a true literary gem. William McGonagall, Scotland's legendary 19th C. bard, is widely recognized as the world's worst poet, ever. What makes his verse so marvellous is that the man truly believed in his 'talent'. Trust me, you can't write poetry this bad on purpose. He has a strong bent to chronicalling tragedy and catastrophes. This book is fascinating and highly recommended to anyone interested in the craft of words, poetry and literature. And after you have absorbed the art of McGonagall, venture into "Very Bad Poetry" edited by Kathryn and Ross Petras. Authentic bad poetry is a whole new adventure in English verse.
    More Poetic Gems.
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      More Poetic Gems.
      William McGonagall
      Manufacturer: Duckworth 1969.
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover
      ASIN: B000L5ZF6I
      Poetic Gems
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Poetic Gems
        William McGonagall
        Manufacturer: David Winter & Son Ltd.
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback
        ASIN: B000I7QYVY

        Product Description

        4-3/4" x + 7-1/54"
        THE RAILWAY BRIDGE OF THE SILVER TAY AND OTHER DISASTERS
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          THE RAILWAY BRIDGE OF THE SILVER TAY AND OTHER DISASTERS
          WILLIAM MCGONAGALL
          Manufacturer: SPHERE BOOKS LTD
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          ASIN: B000SEHRMC
          McGonagall: A Library Omnibus
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            McGonagall: A Library Omnibus
            William McGonagall
            Manufacturer: Gerald Duckworth & Company
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

            BritishBritish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
            ScottishScottish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
            British & IrishBritish & Irish | Single Authors | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 0715605011
            Poetic Gems
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Poetic Gems
              William McGonagall
              Manufacturer: Duckworth
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000J1Q5B8
              POETIC GEMS, Selected from the Works of William McGonagall, Poet and Tragedian
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                POETIC GEMS, Selected from the Works of William McGonagall, Poet and Tragedian
                William McGONAGALL
                Manufacturer: David Winter & Son
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover
                ASIN: B000G3JQVA
                Railway Bridge of Silvery Tay
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Railway Bridge of Silvery Tay
                  William McGonagall
                  Manufacturer: Sphere
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
                  BritishBritish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
                  ASIN: 0722159226

                  Authors:

                  1. McGrath, Eamonn
                  2. McGrath, Melanie
                  3. McHugh, Heather
                  4. McHugh, Maureen F.
                  5. McIntyre, Vonda N.
                  6. McKay, Claude
                  7. McKenzie, Nancy
                  8. McKillip, Patricia
                  9. McKinley, Robin
                  10. McLean, Duncan

                  Authors

                  Authors