Product Description

Set in early eighteenth-century Scotland, James Hogg's masterpiece is a brilliant psychological study of religious fanaticism and the power of evil. Led on by his sinister companion, Gil-Martin, Robert Wringhim commits a series of atrocious crimes. As the novel progresses, however, and the complexity of Wringhim's mind is revealed, the reader begins to doubt whether Gil-Martin even exists.

This edition of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner places the work within the context of Calvinism, Scottish political and constitutional history, and early psychological theories of "double consciousness." A wide-ranging introduction discusses the novel in relation to its setting as well as to the period in which it was composed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10243 in Books
• Published on: 1997-02-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Duncan Wu, St. Catherine's College, Oxford University.
"Adrian Hunter's thorough introduction and detailed annotations make this an essential edition for all students of Hogg's great novel."

Peter D. Garside, Cardiff University
"Hunter's introduction is well-informed in terms both of the novel's intellectual context and current critical approaches."

Simon Kövesi, University of Dundee
"Hunter's edition of Hogg's Confessions is simply the best paperback edition currently available."

Customer Reviews

Intelligent, complex, unusual, and ahead of its time
After a slightly laborious beginning this turns into a stunningly clever novel. It tells the first half of the story from the point of view of 'the Editor', a man who is attempting to piece together an event that happened many years earlier- then the same events, and further events, as told from the personal diary of Robert Wringhim who in the first section had been 'the bad guy', but who in his own words is now distinctly ambiguous. Finally the tale is wrapped up in a 'present day' account of how 'the Editor' came into possession of the manuscript that he is publishing, accompanied by an incredible twist.

The novel deals intelligently with the idea of pre-destination and. In parts it treads the same path as the classic fale of Faust selling his soul to the Devil, in other places it seems to be dealing with schizophrenia, a century before it was medically identified.

The introduction to this Wordsworth Classic edition from David Blair is excellent too. Although placed at the front of the book, it is written in two parts, the first part to be read before the novel, which sets the scene in terms of Scottish politics of the day in which the novel is set, the second part to be read afterwards and which discusses the themes and conclusion and in my case provoked some ideas and twists I hadn't thought of.

Definitely worth a read and far superior to many other 19th century novels that are today considered 'classics'.

Hard going
As others have said - possibly a great and important book at the time but it is not a great read. Partly because of the language used, partly because the 'editors note' at the start tells you all the main events, you then get told them again at greater length by the narator. You know what is coming. Another problem is what are we supposed to make of Robert Wringhams account, and of his shape changing 'friend' Gil-Martin. Is Robert mad, or Gil-Martin the devil. A modern reader may tend to assume the former, but I think in fact it it is the later.

All in all combined with heavy use of old Scots it get very confusing, and hard going - a short book that felt like a very long one.

Examination of a fundamentalist mind
This is one of the single best books about fundamnentalist thinking there is, it focuses upon the ideas predestination and justification in the Christian tradition, which still have some currency among Christian evangelists the world over but essentially the same blind conviction is at the heart of every so called "martyrdom" bombing.

I have only given it three stars because it may not be the easiest book to read, its not the greatest page turner but its a great book in dealing with its subject matter.

An absolute must for anyone who's argued with fundamentalist believers, I would also recommend it to people of faith who are unafraid of searching questions about their convictions.