James Hogg
James Hogg (1770-1835) was a notable Scottish poet and novelist, recognized for his contributions to literature that deeply engage with Scottish folklore and history. Born into a rural family near Ettrick Forest in Scotland, Hogg's early life was marked by hardship, particularly following his father's bankruptcy, which forced him to leave school at a young age. Despite being illiterate until eighteen, he developed a passion for reading, initially focusing on religious texts before immersing himself in English and Scottish literature.
Hogg's literary career began in the early 1790s, inspired by the legacy of Robert Burns. His successful collection of Scottish ballads, "The Mountain Bard," published in 1807, established him as a prominent figure in Scottish literature. He was known for his ability to gather and present traditional Scottish stories, which he showcased in various works, including "The Queen's Wake" and his most famous novel, "The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner." This novel is acclaimed for its psychological depth and social commentary. Hogg's charm and energy, along with his dedication to preserving Scottish culture, cement his legacy as a significant literary figure of the 19th century.
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James Hogg
Poet
- Born: December 9, 1770 (baptized)
- Birthplace: Near Ettrick Forest, Selkirkshire, Scotland
- Died: November 21, 1835
Biography
Although there is uncertainty about James Hogg’s birth date, there are records of his baptism on December 9, 1770, near Ettrick Forest, Scotland. He was the son of Margaret Laidlaw and tenant farmer Robert Hogg, who lived in a very rural area of Scotland. His father was deeply religious and an avid reader of the Bible. At an early age, Hogg became fascinated by Scottish border ballads, legends, and tales of mythological fairies, giants, and other fantastic characters. When Hogg was six years old, his father went bankrupt, the family was evicted, and the boy was forced to leave school to work on neighboring farms. He remained illiterate until, at age eighteen, he took on the job of educating himself, at first reading religious books while working as a shepherd, and later reading the masterpieces of English and Scottish literature.
Hogg began writing poetry during the early 1790’s. The death of poet Robert Burns in 1797 spurred his desire to follow in Burns’s footsteps as the poet of Scotland. In 1802, Hogg met the famous Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, who was putting together a collection of old Scottish ballads. Hogg’s mother became of interest to Scott because of her knowledge of Scottish lowlands folklore. In time, Hogg decided he could do a better job of collecting Scottish folklore than his friend Scott.
Hogg toured the Scottish Highlands, collecting songs for Scots Magazine. These songs were also published in 1807 in his book, The Mountain Bard, and brought Hogg great success and a good deal of money. The same year he also published The Shepherd’s Guide, a treatise on sheep disease, which made Hogg a semicelebrity. Financial desperation finally propelled him to Edinburgh, where he began a newspaper, The Spy, made up mostly of his own writings. However, his infamous story, “The Adventures of Basil Lee,” the tale of a picaresque hero who marries a Scottish prostitute, was rebuffed as immoral. The Queen’s Wake(1813), a collection of poems and minstrel songs based on the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, was very successful. The collection introduces the technique of multiple perspectives that Hogg would use in his later works.
In 1818, Hogg began to write prose in earnest. His story “The Brownie of Bodsbeck” (1818) concerns the Battle of Bothwell Bridge. Hogg is remembered primarily for his novel The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner(1824), which provides an intricate plot involving Scottish castles, long-lost illegitimate sons, affairs of the heart with Calvinist ministers, and mysterious shape-shifting friends. It is considered one of the major nineteenth century novels for its psychological insights, its irony, and its record of social history. Hogg was noted for his great personal charm and physical energy. His literary distinction lies in his ability to fully render old Scottish folklore, effectively capturing and preserving a segment of the Scottish way of life.