Robert Burns: Selected Poems and Songs

by Robert Burns

1996 is bi-centenary of Burns death. The collection celedrates him as Scotlandsfinest lyric poet.

Genres: Poetry, Classics

222 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Robert Burns (also known as Robin) was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language. He also wrote in English and a "light" Scots, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland.

He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. A cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish Diaspora around the world, celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.

As well as making original compositions, Burns collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His Auld Lang Syne is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year), and Scots Wha Hae has served as an unofficial national anthem. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today, include A Red, Red Rose, A Man's A Man for A' That, To a Louse, To a Mouse, The Battle of Sherramuir, Tam o' Shanter and Ae Fond Kiss.

Reviews

[Carly Shilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

My all time favorite Burns poem (which I like to sing to myself a bit too much)

A Red, Red Rose

O, my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June.
O, my Luve's like a melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair as thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will love thess till, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run:

And fare thee well, my only luve!
And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile.

[Douglas Summers-Stay · Rating 4 out of 5]

His poetry always makes me laugh. Here he is addressing the devil, telling him to shape up:

But fare-you-weel, auld Nickie-ben!
O wad ye tak a thought an' men!
Ye aiblins might - I dinna ken -
Still has a stake -
I'm wae to think upo' yon den,
Ev'n for your sake!

Does anyone know what the word 'unco' means?

[Dave Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the auld Scottish proved to be a difficult task.

[Oz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t love every Burns poem but this collection contains so many favourites. I read this while living in England, and found so much comfort in reading to myself out loud, just to hear my own accent in someone else’s words.

[Megan Amato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply love burns.

[TC · Rating 1 out of 5]

what the hell is he talking about? Must know dialect of the time.. Has been lost over the years.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another compendium I am working my way through.