In his nearly unreadable, rambling biographical notes1, one eventually learns that he sprang from a family of five children and that he worked with his father as a handloom weaver. As well as writing the only biography of William McGonagall, Dr Watson is the author of the newly-published Protest Stamps and Covers of Robert Burns 1956-1966. He wrote about 200 poems, including "The Tay Bridge Disaster" and "The Famous Tay Whale", which are widely regarded as some of the worst in English literature. This collection of his work includes poems from Poetic Gems, More Poetic Gems and Last Poetic Gems. Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay! Choose from one of the titles below: A few poems remain unpublished in any printed poetry collection. William McGonagall from Collected Poems (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2006) In the modern era, the entire series is reprinted in a single collection called The Complete McGonagall. Eventually some were published in the Dundee edition of the popular 'Weekly News'. Poet McGonagall’s Masterpieces (After 1894), The Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay and other Disasters (null 1972), Poetic Gems [Duckworth 1980 Version] (null 1980), More Poetic Gems [Duckworth Version] (null 1980), Last Poetic Gems [Duckworth Version] (null 1980), Poetic Gems [Duckworth 1989 Version] (null 1989), The Tay Bridge Disaster and Other Poetic Gems (null 2000), William McGonagall: A Selection (null 2003), unpublished in any printed poetry collection. It was the day the world’s worst poet turned his back on Dundee to seek fame and fortune in London. Poet McGonagall’s Masterpieces (After 1894) 5. 1825-1902 • Ranked #137 in the top 500 poets. By all accounts, McGonagall was a very bad poet, yet his poems have continued to enthrall people since the 19th century. He later moved to Dundee where he remained for much of his life. Poem Hunter all poems of by William Topaz McGonagall poems. Poet and actor. All of William Topaz McGonagall Poems. William Topaz McGonagall was born of rather poor Irish parents in Edinburgh, Scotland, in March 1825. Explore this collection of his work, or try the “Gem of the Day” (above). Poetic Gems [Second Series] (1891) 4. One of Scotland’s best-known poets, William McGonagall was the working-class son of Irish handloom weavers, and was born in Edinburgh and raised in Dundee. These poems may be perused here, grouped either by publication or by subject matter. The Real McGonagall (1948) 8. William McGonagall was largely self-taught, appeared in minor parts on stage and gave public recitations. Poetic Gems [First Series] (1890) 3. 204 poems of William Topaz McGonagall. Famous poet / William Topaz McGonagall. Though most famous for his disaster poems, McGonagall’s range of subjects was actually far wider: The name “Poetic Gems” chosen by McGonagall for his first (and only) book of poems has been adopted and adapted for later collections of his work. By … A riotous pastiche biography. Immortal! Their caution proved ill-founded, as the theatre was filled with friends a… William McGonagall of Dundee was often cited as the worst poet ever to make his living in the trade. Born in Ireland in March, 1825, William McGonagall was a poet, actor, and weaver. More Poetic Gems (1962) 9. Alternatively, you can consult a complete list of all McGonagall poems, listed either alphabetically or chronologically. IN the second part of our trilogy on Scottish eccentrics as portrayed by Hugh MacDiarmid (Christopher Murray Grieve) we approach with some trepidation one of the most famous – or should that be … Collected Poems of William McGonagall is a special edition book of the works of the notorious Scottish poet, William McGonagall, with 257 poems. McGonagall wasn’t just a poet, he turned his hand to literary criticism in this essay: For once, McGonagall is unable to put a date to this uplifting tale, Register to receive the “Gem of the Day” by email. Poems are the property of their respective owners. William McGonagall: a good poet, a bad poet, or not a poet at all? McGonagall's poems were published by his friends, in a series of books bearing variations on the title Poetic Gems. J.K. Rowling chose the name of Hogwart’s professor of transfiguration as a nod to William McGonagall. Though he was yet to show an ambition for poetry, he did show a keenness for acting although the theatre where he performed, Mr Giles' Theatre, would let him perform the title role in Macbethonly if he paid for the privilege in advance. McGonagall was born in Though he’s best known today for The Tay Bridge Disaster, McGonagall actually published well over 200 poems in his lifetime. He only published one collection of poems in his lifetime, Poetic Gems (Winter, Duncan & Co., 1890), which he often performed publicly. He … George Gilfillan" and "Requisition to the Queen" were amongst McGonagall's earliest written poems, yet they appear in More Poetic Gems and Last Poetic Gems respe… You should visit the pages below. He was routinely described as the worst poet ever to commit pen to paper but William McGonagall bashed on for 25 years undeterred by his critics. This is a list of poems by William McGonagall that have been published in book form, either … The Tay Bridge disaster is probably his most famous poem and tells the tale in grand style. For more info, allow yourself the pleasure of exploring the following website dedicated to the "lore of McGonagall": A list of poems by William McGonagall Born in Ireland in March, 1825, William McGonagall was a poet, actor, and weaver. Select Poems of McGonagall (1910) 6. He won notoriety as an extremely bad poet who exhibited no recognition of, or concern for, his peers' opinions of his work.. “A William Topaz McGonagall Appreciation Society keeps his memory warm in his hometown of Dundee where, until his born-again life as a poet and performer, he was an impoverished hand-loom weaver. McGonagall is renowned to be the 'World's Worst Poet' yet still remains in print with a large following. A pathetic tale of the sea I will unfold. McGonagall published over 200 poems in his lifetime, mostly on printed broadsheets he sold in the street or after giving one of his “entertainments”. Poetic Gems (1934) 7. Site by Extra Connections Ltd. © Chris Hunt 2021. [There was in fact a real William McGonagall, the Scottish notoriously bad, bad poet. In his nearly unreadable, rambling biographical notes1, one eventually learns that he sprang from a family of five children and that he worked with his father as a handloom weaver. William Topaz McGonagall (March 1825 – 29 September 1902) was a Scottish poet of Irish descent. https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poet/william-mcgonagall William Topaz McGonagall was born of rather poor Irish parents in Edinburgh, Scotland, in March 1825. He was revered as "The World's Worst Poet" composing such rhymes as "The Tay Bridge Disaster". He won notoriety as an extremely bad poet who exhibited no recognition of, or concern for, his peers' opinions of his work. Last Poetic Gems (1968) 10. William Topaz McGonagall Poetry Collection from Famous Poets and Poems. POETIC GEMS - SELECTED FROM THE WORKS OF WILLIAM MCGONAGALL - Poet and Tragedian, Died in Edinburgh 29th September, 1902 - with Biographical Sketch and Reminiscences by the Author by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL| 1 Jan 1975 Dundee Central Library holds a William McGonagall collection in its local history section. Choose from one of the titles below: 1. His poems can be clumsy yet never leave you dissatisfied. 'Twas at the Seige of Matagarda, during the Peninsular War. https://www.pinterest.co.uk/poetmcgonagall/remembering-mcgonagall 1825 Mar - 1902 Sep 29 ] He is comically renowned as one of the most loved poets in the English language; his distinctive verse style is often imitated in Private Eye and Spike Milligan was among his many "admirers". He only published one collection of poems in his lifetime, Poetic Gems (Winter, Duncan & Co., 1890), which he often performed publicly.He died in Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 29, 1902. He was, according to the census of 1841, born in 1825 or 1826 somewhere in Ireland.His parents were definitely both Irish immigrants, but William himself claimed to have been born in Edinburgh and brought up in the Orkneys. Initially he had his poems printed to sell as broadsheets. William Topaz McGonagall (1825 – September 29, 1902) was a Scottish weaver, actor, and poet.Born in Edinburgh of Irish parents, he settled in Dundee. Welcome, sweet Christmas, blest be the morn. Discovering his poetic ability in 1877, William McGonagall has remained one of the most popular of Scotland's alternative poets. William Topaz McGonagall lived from 1825 to 29 September 1902. is widely celebrated as the worst poet to have written in the English language, or quite possibly in any other. (1830 - 1902) William Topaz McGonagall was an eccentric figure who was born in Edinburgh. If you liked "William Topaz Mcgonagall Poems" page. A Christmas Carol, A Descriptive Poem On The Silvery Tay, The Tay Bridge Disaster The name “Poetic Gems” chosen by McGonagall for his first (and only) book of poems has been adopted and adapted for later collections of his work. Bio: William Topaz McGonagall was a Scottish weaver, doggerel poet and actor. William Shakespeare, there's none can you excel, My parents were sober living, and often did pray, Fellow men! why should the lords try to despise, A New Temperance Poem, In Memory Of My Departed Parents, Who Were Sober Living & God Fearing People. He started to write poetry in 1877. Poems and Song (1878) 2. Note that when a poem was written has no bearing on which of the Poetic Gems books it appears in; the "Address to the Rev. 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