The Worst Poet in the World | From Cautionary Tales

In this cross-post from Cautionary Tales, host Tim Harford tells the story of William McGonagall—often called the worst poet in the world. McGonagall's clumsy verse made him a laughing stock in 19th-century Scotland, yet his notoriety has outlasted many more talented poets. The episode re-examines whether his work might have been misunderstood and what we can learn from such spectacular artistic failure. McGonagall's relentless output and imperviousness to ridicule reveal a strange kind of creative courage.