Robert Ferguson

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  1. McCabeGall21 January 2024 at 11:45

    Robert Fergusson (1750-1774) is a important figure in the evolution of Scots poetry, serving as a link between the generation of Allan Ramsay and the work of Robert Burns and others. He possessed such a range in Scots and English and was comfortable and skilled in using both literary languages. He could be satirical, comical, a rich story-teller, or a melancholy commentator. He was able to cover urban and pastoral themes, and created characters that were brought to life through his verse. He also brought the Scots dialect to the fore, emphasising the colour and vividness that the sounds and meanings can bring to poetry. Several of the poems of Robert Burns are clearly influenced by Robert Fergusson.
    At the age of twenty-four Robert Ferguson had produced a remarkable body of work. If he had survived for longer it is tempting to imagine what he could have achieved or how high his creativity would have soured. Whilst Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson and other artists have recognised the contribution of Robert Ferguson, maybe it is time that Scotland was offered more opportunities to celebrate one of her most talented sons.

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  2. McCabeGall23 January 2024 at 04:02

    Selected Poems in Old Scots: Robert Ferguson (1750-1774): The Poet who influenced Robert Burns and others https://amzn.eu/d/eaPZS1H

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