ROBERT GARIOCH AND ASPECTS OF THE SCOTTISH POETIC TRADITION Andrew John Reid Macintosh A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of MPhil at the University of St Andrews 2001 Full metadata for this item is available in St Andrews Research Repository at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/14751 This item is protected by original copyright ROBERT GARIOCH AND ASPECTS OF THE SCOTTISH POETIC TRADITION a thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy in the University of St Andrews by ANDREW JOHN REID MACINTOSH JANUARY 2001 ProQuest Number: 10166147 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest. ProQuest 10166147 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 ^ u 'v ABSTRACT This thesis is an examination of the work of Robert Garioch (1909-1981), and of his importance within the Scottish poetic tradition. It examines the way in which his reputation has suffered from too easy comparisons with Robert Fergusson, and seeks to reposition Garioch as a writer of greater breadth and depth than has often been acknowledged. The thesis takes in the gamut of Garioch’s writing and treats it as a whole. Chapter 1 examines Garioch’s kinship with Robert Fergusson and suggests that the connection between the two poets, while important, has often been over-emphasised, and suggests other equally important influences and precursors, while acknowledging Garioch’s originality. Chapter n deals with Garioch’s writing about Edinburgh in poetry, prose and drama. Chapter m is concerned with the longer poems and their importance, while Chapter iv deals with the translations, especially those from George Buchanan and Guiseppe Belli, and underlines their significance. Chapter v looks at Garioch’s relationship with other twentieth century writers in Scots—both with his contemporaries within and outwith the Lallans movement and with his predecessors. By way of examining the whole of Garioch’s work, including a significant number of his personal papers, and by contextualising it all, the thesis hopes to offer a more nuanced reading of Garioch’s poetry, one which recognises his frequently undervalued poetic achievement. DECLARATIONS I, Andrew J.R. Macintosh, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 40,500 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carr­ ied out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. 2.^0 1 signature o f candidate I was admitted as a student for the degree of Master of Letters in September 1998 and as a candidate for the degree of Master of Philosophy in July 1999; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between September 1998 and September 2000. date 1 \fi\Aiswtfvj l signature o fcandidate t i I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Master of Philosophy in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. dare J signature of supervisor In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regu­ lations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copy­ right vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bonafide library or research worker. date 200 \ signature of candidate ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am very grateful to the large number of people who have, directly and indirectly, contributed to the writing of this thesis. Professor Robert Crawford supeivised the thesis with keenness and care. I am grateful to all the members of staff at the School of English in the University of St Andrews for friendship and support over many years, but specific assistance or encouragement was received from Professor Douglas Dunn, Dr Christopher MacLachlan and Dr Nicola Royan. Professor Dunn and Professor Neil Corcoran, as successive Heads of School, provided financial assistance for some of the research expenses. The secretaries, Mrs Dorothy Black, Mrs Frances Mullan, Mrs Jane Sommerville and Miss Jill Gamble, were always helpful and accommodating. Many friends have given moral support, and I am particularly grateful for the perseverance of Lilias Fraser, who by working in a similar area has offered countless good ideas and by sharing a flat with me has had to pick up the pieces when they did not fit— a task shared with Helen Paul. Kirsti Wishart and Nigel Reid were introduced to each other at the same time that they were introduced to Robert Garioch and have been a constant presence (and source of refreshment). Bill Stevenson, a source of encouragement in other spheres, was always present with a second opinion and with valuable advice. The content of the thesis was influenced to a degree by discussions (in some cases formal interviews) with Edwin Morgan, George Elder Davie, Jamie Reid Baxter, Duncan Glen, Archie Turnbull, Billy Kay, Christopher Whyte and Bill Findlay. Christopher Whyte, Graham Tulloch and Bill Findlay were particularly keen to let me use material from a forthcoming book. The staffs of the University Libraries in St Andrews (particularly Ken Fraser, Jim Kidd and Christine Gascoigne) and Edinburgh, of the National Library of Scotland Manuscripts Department, of the Mitchell Library and of the National Television Archive were always generous with their time and helpful. M y greatest debt, however, is to my parents, who in the absence of funding from any other source have covered all the costs of writing this thesis. They have tolerated a great deal in six years with little complaint and much encouragement. This thesis is dedicated to them. V TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................................................ ii DECLARATIONS ...............................................................................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................................................... V ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................ v i INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................................................I c h a p t e r i Robert Garioch and Robert Fergusson: Under the Influence?................... 3 c h a p t e r 11 ‘A Queerlike Town: Garioch and Edinburgh..............................................21 c h a p t e r iii Freedom and Captivity: The Longer Poems............................................... 38 c h a p t e r iv Satirist and Humanist: Garioch the translator.............................................50 c h a p t e r v A.D. Mackie, Harry Houdini and ‘that awful man Maurice Lindsay: Rumboat Bleerioch and the Makars.............................................................67 c o n c l u s i o n ............................................................................................................................... 82 BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................................................................. 86 ABBREVIATIONS A SLS Association for Scottish Literary Studies. CP Robert Garioch. Collected Poems. Edinburgh: Macdonald, 1977. CPW Robert Garioch. Complete Poetical Works, ed. Robin Fulton. Edinburgh: Macdonald, 1983. CSD Concise Scots Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers, 1985. GM A Garioch Miscellany, ed. Robin Fulton. Edinburgh: Macdonald, 1986. N LS National Library of Scotland. SLJ Scottish Literary Journal. SP Robert Garioch. Selected Poems. Edinburgh: Macdonald, 1966. TLS Times Literary Supplement. INTRODUCTION Sandy Moffat’s painting Poets' Pub captures a generation of Scottish writers in the supposedly typical setting of an Edinburgh pub.1 Seven of the poets are gathered round one table, with Hugh MacDiarmid and Sydney Goodsir Smith sitting in front of it, George Mackay Brown, Iain Crichton Smith and Sorley MacLean behind, Edwin Morgan sitting fascinated at one side and Norman MacCaig standing louchely at the other. Adjoining this colourful ensemble is Robert Garioch. He wears a shabby dark suit and leans uncomfortably on the adjacent table with his hands linked. His face wears an expression