World's worst poet 'may have been autistic'

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World's worst poet 'may have been autistic'

McGonagall, the ish poet often described as the worst ever to put

pen to paper, showed an indifference to the torrent of abuse directed towards

his work that he may have actually been autistic, a researcher has suggested.

McGonagall spent much of his career being pelted with flour, fish and

eggs at public readings

Dundee-based historian Dr Norman , in a book, Poet McGonagall: The

Biography of McGonagall, says that the " Bard of the Silv'ry Tay " , may

have had Asperger's Syndrome, a disorder on the autistic spectrum.

Dr cites as evidence the poet's indifference to public humiliation -- he

spent much of his career being pelted with flour, fish and eggs at public

readings and on one occasion was knocked out by a brick -- and " an astonishing

repetition of phrases " in his doggerel.

Over sixty of his " poems " begin " 'Twas " , and he constantly used the phrase

" beautiful to be seen " .

Towards the end of his life also complained frequently of " noises in his head "

and susceptibility to hoaxes, such as being told that " King Theebaw " of the

Andaman Islands had appointed him " Grand Knight of the Holy Order of the White

Elephant " , might also point to the disorder, Dr claims.

He said: " McGonagall showed significant difficulty in social interaction - he

made people laugh but seemed to remain insensitive as to why.

" The lack of demonstrated empathy is said to be possibly the most dysfunctional

aspect of Asperger's, while not recognising a listener's feelings or reactions

is another form of social awkwardness associated with it. "

Although written with serious intent, McGonagall's poems often created

unintentional humour. For many years he performed at a Dundee circus, where he

would happily read his poems while the crowd was permitted to pelt him with

eggs, flour, herrings, potatoes and stale bread. He received 15 shillings a

night, but the events become so raucous that city magistrates eventually banned

them.

Dr said: " McGonagall seemed inured to insult, his deadpan response to

ridicule being his greatest character trait

" He wasn't concerned by verbal insults, and didn't flinch before fusillades of

missiles " .

Top Scots psychologist Professor Tommy MacKay, backed Dr 's theory.

Professor MacKay, visiting professor of autism studies at Strathclyde

University, said: " It's certainly quite possible.

" People who have Asperger's characterise it by impairments in reciprocal social

interactions, so their ability to read the signals is very poor. They can come

across as being very thick skinned and unable to read between the lines and

sometimes even read the lines themselves. "