The cheeriest news of all...

[caddyman]

...someone has found a new McGonagall!

It's true and therefore a day to rejoice. According to this article in the Times Online, scholars have unearthed a previously unpublished play by William Topaz McGonagall, officially the world's worst poet. The play, entitled Jack o’ the Cudgel (or The Hero of a Hundred Fights) is apparently based upon his poem of the same name.

Chris Hunt, editor of a new collection of McGonagall's works to be published next month, said that Jack o' the Cudgel was inspired by Shakespeare's Henry IV plays. He said that McGonagall himself, who was an enthusiastic, if dreadful actor, had probably intended to play the title role. He said: "It's funny, but not in the way McGonagall intended, and the best I can say is that it adds to the gaiety of nations."

That's going straight on my Amazon wish list!

Comments

[phil99.livejournal.com]

I was so sure you were talking about Harry Potter based on your subject line!

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you liked the joyfully excruciating McGoonagall, Bry? I don't know if he was cheerfully aware that his poetry was so bad, or if he would fly into dark rages when listeners started laughing, but 'tis a rare gift to be so apparently self-confident and ambitious when you are so ghastly and inept. It's rather like my nemesis, The Dreaded Bridget, who thinks everyone loves her, whereas many are turned off by her repellent personality. And as for me, thinking I'm a bluesman...