Ferguson, Jim (2011) A weaver in wartime: a biographical study and the letters of Paisley weaver-poet Robert Tannahill (1774-1810). PhD thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2395/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/
[email protected] A WEAVER IN WARTIME: A BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY AND THE LETTERS OF PAISLEY WEAVER-POET ROBERT TANNAHILL (1774-1810) Jim Ferguson Doctor of Philosophy UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LITERATURE DEPARTMENT OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE November 2010 words Part 1 – c. 80,000 Part 2 – c. 49,000 ABSTRACT This thesis is a critical biography of Robert Tannahill (1774-1810). As a work of recovery its aim is to lay out the details of the life and in so doing to make the case for Tannahill as a distinctive figure in Scottish literary history. Part One covers the main events in Tannahill’s life, and analyses his poetry, songs and play, The Soldier’s Return, drawing heavily on his extant correspondence throughout. Part Two of the thesis gives all of Tannahill’s extant correspondence.