Burns

by Robert Burns, Gerard Carruthers (Editor)

The perfect gift for poetry lovers. A comprehensive collection of the Scottish Bard's songs and poems.

The 19th-century scholar and educationalist J S Blackie summed up Burns's importance to Scotland and the Scots with the words:
'When Scotland forgets Burns, then history will forget Scotland.'
Today, Burns is unique in the affection and fascination that his memory inspires. The fruits of his legacy can be seen not only in Scotland but around the world - on product packaging, in advertising and on a wealth of merchandise, as well as through continued scholarship and academic study.

Folk tales for an enlightened age: Death and Doctor Hornbook --
To a mouse --
The twa dogs --
Halloween --
Address to the deil --
To a louse --
Address of Beelzebub --
Tam o' Shanter --
Religious sentiment and satire: A prayer, in the prospect of death --
Holy Willie's prayer --
The holy fair --
The Cotter's Saturday night --
Prayer --
o thou dread power --
Epigram to Miss Ainslie in church --
Contemporary politics: Ballad on the American war --
A dream --
The fete champetre --
Ode on the departed regency bill --
The rights of woman --
Why shouldna poor folk mowe --
Scots wha hae --
Ode for General Washington's birthday --
A man's a man for a' that --
Does haughty Gaul invasion threat? --
Love and sex: The rigs o Barley --
Mary Morison --
Green grow the rashes, o --
A poet's welcome to his love-begotten daughter --
The fornicator --
The jolly beggars --
a cantata --
The lass o Ballochmyle --
Libel summons --
Ca' the yowes to the knowes --
Auld lang syne --
Yestreen I had a pint o wine --
Ae fond kiss --
Highland Mary --
A red red rose --
O wert thou in the cauld blast --
Comin thro the rye --
Wha'll mow me now? --
O saw ye my Maggie --
Scottish cultural history: Scotch drink --
Address to a Haggis --
Lines on Ferguson, the poet --
The Bonie Moor-hen --
Johnie Cope --
My hearts in the highlands --
Awa, whigs, awa --
The white cockade --
Scots prologue for Mrs. Sutherland's benefit night, spoken at the Theatre Dumfries --
Lament of Mary Queen of Scots on the approach of spring --
There'll never be peace till Jamie comes hame --
Ye Jacobites by name --
Such a parcel of roques in a nation --
Occasional and biographical verse: I'll go and be a sodger --
My father was a farmer --
The death and dying words of poor Mailie, the author's only pet yowe --
Epitaph on my honoured father --
Epistle to Davie, a brother poet --
Epistle to J. Lapraik --
The auld farmer's New-Year morning a salutation to his auld mare, Maggie --
Lines written on bank-note --
The farewell --
Reply to a trimming epistle received from a Taylor.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Classics, Scotland

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2006

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

[Dolors · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a trip to Scotland I couldn't help myself and bought a second hand copy of R.Burns' poems.
Written in Scottish dialect, it made the whole experience more complete, giving an expressive freshness to the Scottish Landscape.
His most famous song "Auld Lang Syne" was a joy to read, tradition and lyricism giving insight to the rural life of the time.
A gem for those who have come to love Scotland, as I do.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rabbie Burns is Scotland's poet.
He is as well known as any of the greats.
His Scottish brogue does occasionally make the poems difficult but he remains a favorite poet even after 20 years.
He's a bit like e.e. cummings. You can read the same line 20 times and get something different from it each time.

Everyman's Library Pocket Poets are he best way to read poetry. They are beautiful books that will only become more beautiful after they've been stuffed into pockets and backbacks.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burns was Abraham Lincoln's favorite poet. It is easy to see why from this collection—Burns returns repeatedly to the themes of simple rural delights and the honesty and grit of the common man. The Scottish dialect was difficult to parse at first, but I developed an ear for it in time.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems like he would be a fabulous dinner companion - full of stories told in a musical voice, from discussing politics or how he mistakenly ruined a little mouse’s house. You wouldn’t want him as a husband (although he seems to be sweet as a lover) but as a man he is tender, smart, and can be very witty.

The Scottish guide in the back of the book isn’t very useful, so you won’t understand all his words unless you wear kilts even in the winter.

[Donald Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some of this book, but Burns wasted much of his life, which is reflected in many of his poems. He had great ability, keen insight at times, but wasted a lot of it in self-indulgence.

It is valuable to read widely, so this is worth reading, but it is not as satisfying as other poets might be.

Many of Burns' poems were written in Scottish dialect, so they can be hard to follow at times.

[Will Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my quest to become more read in poetry Robert Burns may have been a bit of a reach yet he was great fun to read. Understood about half of the Scottish dialect.
Favorites- the Jolly Beggars
The twa dogs
Tam o’ Shanter
A prayer in prospect of death
Holy Willie’s prayer
A red red rose

[Bryony Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

[Sol Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note that my review of the book is perfunctory: I’m not qualified to have an opinion on the quality of Burns’ work; I feel like only someone studying him, or more understanding of Scotland history in general can really for an opinion on how his expression is rendered informed enough to matter.

It’s an exciting book, partially because you’ll be reading a few poems in a row that are way too dense and Scottish for you to grok, and then you’ll run across a line so familiar that you just plain thought that it was always a saying. “Best laid schemes o’ mice and men…” “Colin’ thro’ the eye…” and on and on. Some of the most repeated verses in English were invented by a 27 year-old farmer who put pretty words next to each other over and over. It’s a valuable read, even if you’re a more casual reader of poetry.

[Landon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved Robert Burns works. My review would be meaningless compared to the centuries of love shown for this man and his poetry. This book doesn't seem to be a collection of his works, but there is a lot there that certainly has all the work that I am familiar with. The poems are written in the center of the page so that the poems are not look cluttered with the possibility of copious notes if you would like. The front of the book talks about Robert Burns and has a dictionary at the back of the book.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these little pocket poetry editions from Everyman's Library. They are a convenient size for commute travel. This particular edition would have 5 stars rather than 4 if the glossary of Scottish dialect were better.

Burns was very popular in his day, a kind of primitive chic. His verse was bawdy and rollicking in a Scottish dialect. It pays close attention to form.

For those who don't know, he is the author of the song Auld Lang Syne.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent portable edition of Burns poems with Scots glossary in back.

"Still, thou art blest, compar'd wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee
But Och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!"

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I learned that President Lincoln always carried a pocket size book of Robert Burns around with him, I purchased this pocket-size book.

Only recently have I come to appreciate Robert Burns more with a book entitled, "The Bard." Beautifully written.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doesn't have John Anderson My Jo' and the glossary of Scottish terms is weak.

[Angi M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Robert Burns! I had big plans to host a Burns dinner this January but somehow that fizzled out...

[Faith B · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3 1/2 stars)
His written accent is quite endearing -if occasionally unitelligable- and his verse is whimsical and lovely by turns.

[Donna Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poet Robert Burns is my great great great grandfather.

[James Violand · Rating 5 out of 5]

We lil Robbie...If ye can take to the tongue, tis a gran read ye've in store.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are great fun to read out loud. I love cheesy poetry, but there's some good solid lyrical work in this collection too.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great poet but most of the poems are written in a phonetic Scottish dialect which made it a difficult read for me. Maybe I can go for an audio book next time I want to tackle Burns.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because I really liked a Burns poems I read somewhere, but none of the poems in this collection really struck a chord with me....