Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

On the surface, this novel is a simple tale of a young man who encounters a shape-shifting devil, an early manifestation of a doppelganger, and the various misadventures that follow. This novel was perhaps the first post modern novel; it employs clustered narratives, self-reflexive point-of-view, unreliable narrators, and unsympathetic-protagonist. This is indeed a land mark novel.

James Hogg (1770 - 21 November 1835) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and essayist known for writing in both Scots and English. Born on a small farm near Ettrick, Scotland, Hogg worked as a shepherd and farmhand in his youth and was primarily self-educated through reading. He became friends with notable writers of his time, including Sir Walter Scott, and even wrote an unauthorized biography of Scott. Hogg gained recognition as the "Ettrick Shepherd," a nickname under which some of his works were published. His notable works include the novel "The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner," the poem "The Queen's Wake," and the collection of songs "Jacobite Relics." Hogg's writings were often inspired by his experiences as a shepherd and his love for Scottish culture. He died in 1835 and was buried in Ettrick Churchyard.