English and Scottish Literature

Ronnie Jack

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of a former colleague, Professor Ronnie (RDS) Jack on December 14th 2016.

Professor Ronnie Jack

Professor of Medieval and Scottish Literature at Edinburgh until his retirement in 2004, Ronnie was a distinguished scholar of medieval drama, early Scottish literature, Robert Burns, and J.M. Barrie, and a much loved teacher. He first joined the department in 1968, having studies for a doctorate in Renaissance Scottish literature with Professor Jack MacQueen. Ronnie’s prolific and influential work on medieval and Renaissance Scottish literature brought to light in inspiring and sympathetic ways the aesthetic and intellectual range and depth of a neglected period, firmly rooted in his commitment to an inclusive, internationalist, and comparative approach to the study of Scottish literature more broadly.  Renowned for his theatrically dynamic lecturing style, Ronnie was an inspiration to many students here at Edinburgh and beyond, and even in retirement returned to teach his beloved Dunbar and Barrie to Scottish Literature One students. He will be missed very much. You can read a fuller obituary in the Herald:

Obituary - Ronnie Jack, professor of Scottish literature