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Dundee

Mentioned 5 times across 1 podcast this week

This Week's Pulse

Dundee has re-elected Heather Anderson and Stephen Gethins to represent the city in the Scottish Parliament, even as local officials grapple with an inflation-driven increase in school clothing grants.

While current events dominate the news cycle, Tim Harford has been looking backward on Revisionist History, revisiting the city's relationship with the infamous poet William McGonagall. "McGonagall's family moved to Dundee, where both he and his father worked as weavers." Harford notes, painting a picture of a 19th-century industrial hub that supported the poet's early theatrical ambitions.

The podcast narrative takes a darker turn when describing how the city eventually turned on its local celebrity. According to Harford, "His Dundee performances so often ended in a near riot that he was eventually banned from giving any more recitals in the town." It is a stark reminder of the city's history of public intolerance, contrasting sharply with its upcoming role as a host for the interdisciplinary conference on human rights and environmental degradation.

Where it's discussed

The Worst Poet in the World | From Cautionary Tales

Revisionist History

Tim Harfordneutralfrom “The Theatrical Life of William McGonagall”

The city where McGonagall lived and performed.

“McGonagall's family moved to Dundee, where both he and his father worked as weavers. William would give impromptu performances of Shakespeare to his shop mates. He says they were quite delighted, and perhaps they were, since they were willing to pay good money…”

Tim Harfordneutralfrom “The Legacy of William McGonagall”

The town where McGonagall performed and was eventually banned from giving recitals.

“[crowd shouting] His Dundee performances so often ended in a near riot that he was eventually banned from giving any more recitals in the town. No wonder he died in poverty. He'd been making 15 shillings a night, the equivalent of a week's wages for an ordinar…”

Tim Harfordneutralfrom “The Life and Legacy of William McGonagall”

The home city of William McGonagall.

“The constable didn't oblige, but he gave McGonagall some advice: "Unless you want to be arrested, go home, and don't think of returning to Balmoral." [footsteps] McGonagall duly began the three-day walk home to Dundee. When he got back, he wrote up his adventu…”

Tim Harfordneutralfrom “The Genius of William McGonagall”

The hometown of William McGonagall.

“the shady groves alone, making love to each other before they go home." Really? We're going to believe that William McGonagall was only accidentally funny?McGonagall is best known today for his poem about the Tay Bridge disaster. But in an early poem, he also …”

Tim Harfordneutralfrom “The Worst Poet in the World and the Tay Bridge Disaster”

The city connected by the railway bridge.

“As Watt and Barclay sip their tea and look out of the window into the darkness, they can see the faint line of lamps all along the new railway bridge, running almost two miles across the wide River Tay to the city of Dundee. Every now and then, the clouds gust…”