Abstract

John Younger (1785–1860) of St Boswells, a self-taught shoemaker, was a renowned free thinker and a passionate writer. Originally inspired by Burns, he produced two books of poetry, an angling manual, and a justification of Sabbath observance; his vividly-detailed autobiography was published posthumously. This essay is in two parts, the first covering Younger’s poetry and the second his prose. It traces an incisive mind moving beyond exquisite description of nature to confront major social and political issues of the day, including rural poverty, the Napoleonic Wars, slavery, the contentions of Tories and Whigs, Chartism, and the Corn Laws.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.