James Hogg

James Hogg, also known as The Ettrick Shepherd, was a poet and writer. He was born in 1770, the son of a shepherd and he spent years herding sheep and cattle receiving little in the way of education. He wrote poems in the 1790´s and helped Sir Walter Scott compile his Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.

In 1810 he moved to Edinburgh and made his name writing for a variety of publications. He became popular with the literary society of the day and was granted a cottage at Altrive in the Borders by the Duke of Buccleuch. He died in 1835.

His greatest work by far is the astonishing The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner an incredible book which tells the story of a pious man´s fall from grace. It is a dark and entertaining tale which reflects the religious controversy of the time.