Legacy of the poet who inspired Robert Burns will be celebrated

The legacy of an 18th-century poet said to have inspired Robert Burns and known for his famous poem on “Auld Reikie” will be commemorated on the 250th anniversary of his death.

Robert Fergusson died in an Edinburgh asylum on 17 October 1774, aged 24, after being found insensible following a head injury.

His poetry, written in Scottish and English, was inspired by everyday life in Edinburgh, known as Auld Reikie – now spelled Reekie – Scottish for “Old Smoky”, as the city walls trapped air pollution between the narrow buildings. .

Fergusson wrote his most famous work, Auld Reikie, A Poem, a year before his death.

His work is credited with inspiring the Scottish bard, Robert Burns, who erected a memorial at his unmarked grave in Edinburgh in which he described him as “the poet of Scotland”.

In a letter to Dr. John Moore in August 1787, Burns wrote that he had almost given up on poetry until he read Fergusson’s work.

Events take place from Monday to honor Fergusson, including a podcast and an evening celebrating his work.

Author Andrew O’Hagan – who wrote the acclaimed novel Mayflies – described Fergusson as “a beautiful secret intelligence in the Scottish vernacular” and “one of the most important figures in our literary culture”.

Professor Rhona Brown, leading the celebrations, said: “Robert Fergusson is one of Scotland’s most important poets, but he is often misunderstood.

“Writing in both Scottish and English, one of Fergusson’s main themes is everyday life in Edinburgh, and he portrays the city, warts and all, in his masterpiece Auld Reikie. His poetry is sly and satirical, funny and sharp.”

Fergusson is also credited with inspiring Robert Louis Stevenson, and Professor Brown said he was a “poet’s poet”.

She added: “The great figure who was deeply influenced by Fergusson is Robert Burns. He was influenced by Fergusson quite profoundly, and we know this because in Burns’s autobiographical letter to Dr. John Moore of August 1787, he says that he almost gave up on poetry completely until he read Fergusson’s poetry.

“Burns erects a memorial stone, which describes Fergusson as the poet of Scotland and his grave as a place for people who love Scottish poetry to come and make pilgrimage.”

The University of Glasgow’s Stories from Glasgow podcast will celebrate Fergusson’s legacy from 14 October.

Prof Brown also organized an event, Remembering Robert Fergusson: A Night Of Poetry And Music, at St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh, on 17 October, the anniversary of his death, which is almost sold out.

Guests include writer and broadcaster Billy Kay, acclaimed authors Andrew O’Hagan and James Robertson, musician David Hamilton and Professor Kirsteen McCue, professor of Scottish literature and music culture.

O’Hagan said: “For so many Scottish writers down the generations, Fergusson’s voice has been part of the inner ear, a warmth, a subtle humor and a beautiful intelligence secreted in the Scottish vernacular, and I have felt aware of it all along. my life as a writer.

“I applaud the important work being done on Fergusson at the University of Glasgow and am honored to take part in the event to mark the 250th anniversary of his death.

“Fergusson is one of the most important figures in our literary culture and we should celebrate him at every opportunity.”

In 2004, a bust of Fergusson was made by sculptor David Annand and installed in Edinburgh’s Canongate.

Kay said: “As an Ayrshire man steeped in the living tradition of Burns, it was a great pleasure and revelation for me to discover what Sydney Goodsir Smith called the ‘effervescent vitality’ of Fergusson’s poetry when I studied Scottish literature at the University of Edinburgh in early 1970s.

“The love for it inspired me to produce and present a show and an iconic LP called Fergusson’s Auld Reikie with a group of brilliant traditional musicians.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing my experiences with Fergusson with the public.”