The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

The -sinner- in this engrossing and strange novel is Robert Wringham, the son of a Scottish laird and a much more religious mother, who quickly separates from her free-living husband under the encouragement of an influential minister. When it-s time to be baptized, Robert takes the preacher-s last name, and a bit later the reverend decides that Robert is also one of God-s chosen. Robert believes that as a member of the elect he can never be damned, no matter what he does.
One day Robert becomes fast friends with a man with mysterious powers and a strange name. This Gil-Martin takes on the appearance of different people, and can even learn their -most secret thoughts.- He-s also good at arguing Scripture-and capitalizing on Robert-s pride, and other faults. Soon they-re scheming together to get the better of their enemies-and their plans include murder.
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner was a failure when it was first published anonymously in 1824, though it was ahead of its time in its blend of mystery, psychological horror, tall tales, comedy, metafiction, and social criticism. It was only in the twentieth century that it became more broadly known, gaining admirers that included the writers André Gide, Muriel Spark, Philip Pullman, and Ian Rankin.

James Hogg was born on a small farm near Ettrick, Selkirkshire, Scotland in 1770 and was baptised there on 9 December, his actual date of birth having never been recorded. His father, Rrt Hogg (1729-1820), was a tenant farmer while his mother, Margaret Hogg (née Laidlaw) (1730-1813), was noted for collecting native Scottish ballads. Margaret Laidlaw's father, known as Will o' Phawhope, was said to have been the last man in the Border country to speak with the fairies. James was the second eldest of four brothers, his siblings being William, David, and Rrt (from eldest to youngest). Rrt and David later emigrated to the United States, while James and William remained in Scotland for their entire lives.