McGonagall, William

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Mickle rhymer

Poetic Gems (Duckbacks) (Duckbacks)
William Topaz McGonagall
Manufacturer: Duckworth Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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.

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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.

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Poetic Gems. Series 1 & 2
WILLIAM, McGONAGALL
Manufacturer: Echo Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | 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.

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Exquisite and delightful bad poetry!

McGonagall: A Selection
William McGonagall
Manufacturer: Birlinn Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Criticism | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1874744114

Customer Reviews:

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.

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More Poetic Gems.
William McGonagall
Manufacturer: Duckworth 1969.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000L5ZF6I

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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

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THE RAILWAY BRIDGE OF THE SILVER TAY AND OTHER DISASTERS
WILLIAM MCGONAGALL
Manufacturer: SPHERE BOOKS LTD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SEHRMC

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McGonagall: A Library Omnibus
William McGonagall
Manufacturer: Gerald Duckworth & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Scottish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Poetic Gems
William McGonagall
Manufacturer: Duckworth
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J1Q5B8

POETIC GEMS, Selected from the Works of William McGonagall, Poet and Tragedian

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POETIC GEMS, Selected from the Works of William McGonagall, Poet and Tragedian
William McGONAGALL
Manufacturer: David Winter & Son
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000G3JQVA

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Railway Bridge of Silvery Tay
William McGonagall
Manufacturer: Sphere
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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