Hugh MacDiarmid

Date of Birth: August 11, 1892

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: September 9, 1978

Biography

Hugh MacDiarmid, born Christopher Murray Grieve, was a prolific Scottish poet and a leading figure in the Scottish Renaissance. Born on August 11, 1892, in Langholm, Scotland, MacDiarmid is best known for his works that embody a strong sense of Scottish identity and language. He was a fervent advocate for the revival of the Scots language and often incorporated it into his poetry. His most famous work, “A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle,” epitomizes his style, blending modernist techniques with traditional Scottish themes. Throughout his career, MacDiarmid’s political views, ranging from socialism to Scottish nationalism, heavily influenced his writing. He passed away on September 9, 1978, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire Scottish literature and cultural identity.

5 Interesting Facts about Hugh MacDiarmid

1. Hugh MacDiarmid was a founding member of the National Party of Scotland, which later evolved into the Scottish National Party (SNP).

2. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War I.

3. MacDiarmid was expelled from the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1938 due to his nationalist views.

4. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature multiple times but never won.

5. MacDiarmid’s later years were spent in a remote croft in the Shetland Islands, where he continued to write prolifically.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hugh MacDiarmid

1. “Scotland small? Our multiform, our infinite Scotland small?”

2. “The rose of all the world is not for me. I want for my part only the little white rose of Scotland that smells sharp and sweet—and breaks the heart.”

3. “It is time Scotland had its own voice in the world, and it is time the voice was heard.”

4. “Literature is the supreme achievement of the human spirit.”

5. “I will speak out, as I have always done, for the things I believe in, even if I stand alone.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While specific details about Hugh MacDiarmid’s net worth are not well-documented, it is known that he lived modestly, particularly in his later years in the Shetland Islands.