Complex sentence: Collected Poems, Birlinn, 2006, pvii Rather than being disappointed, McGonagall took this as great praise of his work-during a trip to Dunfermline in 1879, he was mocked by the Chief Templar, who told him that his poetry was very bad.
Split into simpler sentences: Collected Poems, Birlinn, 2006, pvii McGonagall took this as praise for his work. During a trip to Dunfermline in 1879, he was mocked by the Chief Templar, who told him that his poetry was very bad.