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The Great Poets: William McGonagall

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The Great Poets: William McGonagall

By: William Topaz McGonagall
Narrated by: Gregor Fisher
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About this listen

The idiosyncratic Scottish poet William Topaz McGonagall has the unusual reputation as one of the worst poets in the English language with rhymes and rhythms that produce mirth rather than wonder. His masterpiece is "The Tay Bridge Disaster".

Scottish-born Gregor Fisher, who starred in Love Actually and other film and TV programs, reads the key poems and passages from the autobiography - and gets deep into character!

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2009 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2009 Naxos Audiobooks European Poetry World Literature Highlander

Editor reviews

Scottish poet William McGonagall has become the butt of jokes, with his painful rhymes about battles, shipwrecks, and Scotland's scenery. Here the acclaimed actor Gregor Fisher adopts a pronounced brogue to bring McGonagall's poems to life, with amusing results. Fisher also reads illuminating passages from McGonagall's autobiography, which discuss his attempts at playing Shakespeare, the ideas behind his poems, and anecdotes from his travels and adventures. Those interested in Scottish poetry and history will find this a revealing listen.

Critic reviews

"Naxos Audio has not only provided a highly entertaining hour's diversion but has confirmed something that every teacher of English has always known: poetry - good, bad, or indifferent - can be appreciated most when read aloud. Gregor Fisher [gives] an intelligent performance." (SoundComentary.com)
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I have to say I had long awaited a chance to hear McGonagall's poems... Bloody hell, he really was rubbish!! I cannot recommend this book. It's an hour of my time and £7 I'll never get back.

Drivel

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He's the worst poet of all time, I loved every minute of it.

McGonagal's verse is clunky at best and torturous at worst, it is the poetic equivalent of a car crash, and like a car crash you can't help but be drawn to it. His poems are appalling and yet, quite unintentionally, haunting to listen to.

A great poet he is not, but I for one treasure his work, glorious dumpster fire that it is. One thing's for sure, like his Tay Bridge Disaster, listening to this is something 'which shall be remembered for a very long time'

Perfectly terrible

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