Robert Burns

by Robert Burns

'Oh would some power the gift give us, to see ourselves as others see us!' Robert Burns

Robert Burns, poet and lyricist, also known as Rabbie Burns, is widely regarded as the National Poet of Scotland - and much of his work has become part of everyday modern

'The best laid schemes o' mice and men...'

'To see her is to love her...'

Often credited with writing the lyrics for Auld Lang Syne, he almost single-handedly inspired the movement that preserved Scottish music and lyrics which had been handed down the generations vocally for centuries, thereby maintaining Scots culture and language.

A cultural icon and pioneer of the Romantic movement, Burns was chosen as the greatest Scot in a 2009 poll. This collection includes some of his best-loved, most beautiful work.

'Now's the day, now's the hour' Robert Burns

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

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

[Rachel Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My poetry knowledge is quite bare.
There’s a gap in my education there.
A Scottish poet, with words unknown
Was perhaps not a good stepping stone.

Nevertheless my enjoyment was great,
Some nights I read his work quite late.
Burns sure loved a Bonny lass
And also the sky and trees and grass.

[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.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another compendium I am working my way through.