Works of 'world's worst poet' sold at auction
16.05.2008 21:05
Arts
- Source: cbc.ca
A collection of 35 poems by William Topaz McGonagall, often referred to as the "world's worst poet" in the English language, has sold for $12,900 Cdn at an auction in Edinburgh. The collection, self-published by McGonagall, was sold by Lyon & Turnbull auctioneers Friday, with the buyer choosing to remain anonymous — perhaps with good reason. The works, described as having poor vocabulary and bad rhyming, tackle topics from a theatre fire to Britain's imperial wars to women's suffrage. In fact, the selling price outpaced that of a set of inscribed Harry Potter books by fellow Scottish scribe J.K. Rowling, which fetched about $12,100 at the same event. McGonagall was a weaver in Dundee, Scotland who often recited his works on the street and tried to sell them. He was ridiculed during his lifetime, keeping an umbrella nearby for protection against hurled eggs and vegetables. One of his poems attests to the routine derision he experienced: "Every morning when I go out/The ignorant rabble they do shout/There goes Mad McGonagall!" "Everyone knows him as the world's worst poet, but we are still talking about him today and he's attracted an international audience," said Alex Dove, books specialist at Lyon & Turnbull. "He's appreciated because he's comedic, he's got bad vocabulary and the rhyme is cringeworthy." McGonagall, who died in 1902, was always proud of his work, despite the bad reception. He even produced a short autobiography, two copies of which were created and are inscribed with this tribute: "dedicated to himself, knowing none greater." In fact the poet's life was blazed across the big screen in a 1974 movie, The Great McGonagall with comedian Spike Milligan in the title role and co-starring Peter Sellers as Queen Victoria. His most infamous poem is called The Tay Bridge Disaster (1879), which recalled the tragedy in which 75 people died. "So the train mov'd slowly along the Bridge of Tay/Until it was about midway/Then the central girders with a crash gave way/And down went the train and passengers into the Tay." Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKMore Books HeadlinesWorks of 'world's worst poet' sold at auction00A collection of 35 poems by William Topaz McGonagall, often referred to as the "world's worst poet" in the English language, has sold for $12,900 Cdn at an auction in Edinburgh.Mad magazine pioneer Will Elder dies00William Elder, the illustrator who pioneered the visual style for iconic humour title Mad magazine, has died at the age of 86.December Man lauded at Canadian Authors Association awards00Montreal playwright Colleen Murphy's The December Man, a harrowing family story centred around the 1989 Montreal massacre of 14 women, has racked up another honour.Naipaul biography among 6 books competing for British non-fiction prize00A biography of writer V.S. Naipaul and a modern account of travel through Africa in the footsteps of H.M. Stanley have been nominated for Britain's richest non-fiction prize. My Messy Life explores slob subculture00Josh Freed, a Montreal journalist and admitted slob, doesn't deny his documentary about being messy is somewhat self-serving.More Arts HeadlinesOttawa rallies for portrait gallery on deadline day00More than 100 people rallied in Ottawa to show they want the Portrait Gallery of Canada to be in the nation's capital. The crowd gathered two hours before the deadline for cities across Canada to submit bids for the gallery.Works of 'world's worst poet' sold at auction00A collection of 35 poems by William Topaz McGonagall, often referred to as the "world's worst poet" in the English language, has sold for $12,900 Cdn at an auction in Edinburgh.Ellen DeGeneres tells TV audience she and Portia de Rossi to marry00Ellen DeGeneres is putting the California Supreme Court ruling in favour of gay marriage into action — she and Portia de Rossi plan to wed, DeGeneres announced on her talk showFox cuts ad time for two new prime-time shows00Fox Broadcasting says its trying a "potentially revolutionary" concept in North American television by cutting the amount of commercials by half for two of its new prime-time dramas airing this fall. Ont. premier's arts prize expands to include arts organizations00Ontario is expanding the Premier's Award, its fledgling arts honour, to recognize not only individual creators but arts organizations as well. Nominees include writer Afua Cooper, composer Alex Pauk and the Hot Docs film fest. Arts FeaturesKeys to the kingdomThe Narnia sequel needs more heart, fewer talking animalsOutta sightMemorable musical performances on late-night talk TVLighter than airThe Taiwanese film Flight of the Red Balloon is pretty but dullSketchy charactersThe touring Kids in the Hall get back to their comedy rootsBreaking sound barriersVictoriaville festival celebrates 25 years Disc of the weekDeath Cab for Cutie's Narrow StairsPeople who read this also read …
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