Edwin Waugh - The Lancashire Dialect Writer

Edwin Waugh – The Lancashire Dialect Writer by Martha Vicinus,
A5, 55pp. Edwin Waugh (1817-90) was a journeyman printer, secretary, salesman and part-time writer until the age of forty, when he became sufficiently well known to launch a career in journalism and public readings in dialect. Since a great deal of unpublished material has survived, including letters, memorabilia, and a diary (kept during the years 1847-51), it is possible to reconstruct Waugh’s personal life at a time when he was still groping for a career, his published writings offer a sharp contrast to his private life. Waugh’s greatest success was “Besom Ben”, a series of stories about a besom (broom) maker living on the moors of northern Lancashire. Just a few lines from one of his most popular poems ‘The dule’s i’ this bonnet o’ mine,
My ribbins’ll never be reet
Here, Mally, aw’m like to be fine,
For Jamie’ll be comin’ to-neet’