Hogg was born in a rural, shepherd community and self-taught through much of his life. During his lifetime he was widely acknowledged by literary society, especially in Edinburgh literary circles, and was personally acquainted with many of the era's great writers, including fellow poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Major Works:
- The Mountain Bard (1807)
- The Queen's Wake (1813)
- The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other Tales (1818)
- Tales and Sketches (1866)
His contributions:
- Hogg was one of the earliest and most influential writers of the Scottish Borders, and his work helped to raise the profile of the Borders in Scottish literature.
- He was a prolific writer and his work covers a wide range of genres, including poetry, novels, short stories, and songs.
- His work often reflects his own experiences and observations of life in the Scottish Borders, and he was particularly skilled at capturing the local dialect and customs.
- Hogg's work is also significant for its use of Scottish mythology and folklore, and he is credited with helping to revive interest in these traditions.
Legacy:
- Hogg's work had a significant impact on later writers, including Walter Scott, Robert Burns, and William Wordsworth.
- In the 19th century, Hogg's work fell out of favor, but interest in his writing was revived in the early 20th century and his work is now considered to be one of the most important bodies of literature in Scottish literature.
- He was also a well-known figure in Edinburgh society, and his life and works have been the subject of numerous biographies and studies.