Burns: 'A Red, Red Rose' and Other Poems

by Robert Burns

Offering everything from simple ballads to great set pieces like "Tam O’Shanter," this collection celebrates the work of the poor farmer-turned-exciseman who became, literally, the voice of an entire nation.

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2017

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

[Cheyenne Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite surprised that I ended up enjoying this small book of poetry as much as I did given my general intimidation of the genre and unfamiliarity with Scottish terminology. However, Burns’ natural imagery and depictions of pastoral life created a reading experience that felt like a melancholy walk through glens.

My favorite individual poem was “Written In Friars Carse Hermitage On Nithside.”

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s clear from this thoroughly delightful selection of Burns’s poems, songs, and ballads, why he is considered Scotland’s national poet. My reading was aided greatly by the glossary of Scots words in this volume supplemented by It’s clear from this thoroughly delightful selection of Burns’s poems, songs, and ballads, why he is considered Scotland’s national poet. My reading was aided greatly by the glossary of Scots words in this volume supplemented by The Online Scots Dictionary and recordings of his works by The Picts performing as the Court of Equity.