Abstract
Derick Thomson - Ruaraidh MacThomais - was one of the most prolific and influential Scottish Gaelic poets of the twentieth century. His work pushed forward the boundaries of Gaelic poetry, taking it from its traditional heartlands in the Highlands and Islands to Scotland's Lowland cities, Glasgow in particular.
He was the first poet to use free verse consistently in Gaelic, and his poems, both in terms of form and content, had a profound influence on following generations of Gaelic writers. This SCOTNOTE Study Guide examines Thomson's life and work, and his historical, political, cultural and personal influences.