In light of our current series on mistakes, we're sharing an episode from Cautionary Tales—a podcast that’s all about mistakes and what we can learn from them. This story is about a poet—some say the worst poet in the world–William McGonagall. McGonagall's works were full of jarring meter, banal imagery, and awkward rhymes. They made him a laughing stock in 19th Century Scotland and are still derided to this day.

What can we learn from such a disastrous poet? And it is possible we’ve misunderstood McGonagall all along?  

We'll be back with a new mistake next week.

In light of our current series on mistakes, we're sharing an episode from <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/cautionary-tales">Cautionary Tales</a>&mdash;a podcast that&rsquo;s all about mistakes and what we can learn from them. This story is about a poet&mdash;some say the worst poet in the world&ndash;William McGonagall. McGonagall's works were full of jarring meter, banal imagery, and awkward rhymes. They made him a laughing stock in 19th Century Scotland and are still derided to this day.
What can we learn from such a disastrous poet? And it is possible we&rsquo;ve misunderstood McGonagall all along?&nbsp;&nbsp;
We'll be back with a new mistake next week.

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.

To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past&mdash;an event, a person, an idea, even a song&mdash;and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.
To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/revisionist-history/id1119389968">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">pushkin.fm/plus</a>.
iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance

Revisionist History

The Worst Poet in the World | From Cautionary Tales 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e91722b9-0bb5-4d62-af9c-b44000f26346/transcript