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The Complete Works of Robert Burns
Illustrated with sixty etchings and wood cuts, maps and facsimiles. The poetry and prose in the second volume brought us to the end of the Edinburgh period and to the eve of Burns's settlement at Ellisland. This present volume treats entirely of the Ellisland period. Burns is now a married man, which event he celebrates in his most jovial manner: I hae a wife o' my ain; I'll partake wi' naebody. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
704 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1835
About the author
James A. MacKay
150 books13 followersAlso credited as "James MacKay" or "James Alexander MacKay".
Dr. James Alexander MacKay was a prolific Scottish writer and philatelist whose reputation was damaged by a criminal conviction for theft and repeated accusations of plagiarism. In an obituary by John Holman, Editor of the British Philatelic Bulletin, Mackay was described as a "philatelic writer without equal". Mackay's output was broad.
Dr. James Alexander MacKay was a prolific Scottish writer and philatelist whose reputation was damaged by a criminal conviction for theft and repeated accusations of plagiarism. In an obituary by John Holman, Editor of the British Philatelic Bulletin, Mackay was described as a "philatelic writer without equal". Mackay's output was broad.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 17, 2019
Me ha encantado acercarme a esta figura tan importante de la literatura escocesa. Me han emocionado mucho sus poemas y sus canciones.
Al principio pensé que las cartas podrían hacerse muy pesadas de leer, pero todo lo contrario, a través de ellas no sólo entiendes y ves el período histórico que le tocó vivir a Burns, lleno de Revoluciones, sino todo el amor que tenía por Escocia.
Un auténtico placer.
Al principio pensé que las cartas podrían hacerse muy pesadas de leer, pero todo lo contrario, a través de ellas no sólo entiendes y ves el período histórico que le tocó vivir a Burns, lleno de Revoluciones, sino todo el amor que tenía por Escocia.
Un auténtico placer.
April 9, 2014
Robert Burns, the father of the Scottish literature. What can I say about the magnificent Rabbie?
He is (without hint of a doubt) my personal favourite metaphysical poet.
Why?
He simply had the extraordinary ability combine every-day situations with the Scots' dialect and English in a poem perfectly. He crafted beautiful witty lines that depict the Scottish society of the late 18th Century.
Among my favourite poems I can mention "To a Louse" which portraits the life of a plump louse which is on a upper-class lady's head and which Burns chastises for not realising how important his host is, and then reflects that, to a louse, we are all equal prey, and that we would be disabused of our pretensions if we were to see ourselves through each other's eyes.
He is (without hint of a doubt) my personal favourite metaphysical poet.
Why?
He simply had the extraordinary ability combine every-day situations with the Scots' dialect and English in a poem perfectly. He crafted beautiful witty lines that depict the Scottish society of the late 18th Century.
Among my favourite poems I can mention "To a Louse" which portraits the life of a plump louse which is on a upper-class lady's head and which Burns chastises for not realising how important his host is, and then reflects that, to a louse, we are all equal prey, and that we would be disabused of our pretensions if we were to see ourselves through each other's eyes.
March 14, 2012
Love Burns!
June 24, 2021
Robert Burns is one of the most influential poets of Scotland. He is a national figure head. His poems inspired various Romanticism poets, and even modern-day poets.
That being said, I had to stop about one-third of the way of this book. It is not that I don't understand the Scots language, it simply did not appeal to me. I could hear the poetic rhyming when being read aloud and can attest to Burn's magnificent skills. I suppose the poems about one bonnie lass or another was difficult to relate to, or the struggles of being a farmer in rural Scotland. The lengthy biography of Robert Burns at the beginning of the book was by far the most interesting part for me.
So, I am taking a break from this book for now. I own the kindle version, which means I will most likely return to it in the near future. For now, I will take up another novel that will hold my interest for a wee bit longer than this one.
That being said, I had to stop about one-third of the way of this book. It is not that I don't understand the Scots language, it simply did not appeal to me. I could hear the poetic rhyming when being read aloud and can attest to Burn's magnificent skills. I suppose the poems about one bonnie lass or another was difficult to relate to, or the struggles of being a farmer in rural Scotland. The lengthy biography of Robert Burns at the beginning of the book was by far the most interesting part for me.
So, I am taking a break from this book for now. I own the kindle version, which means I will most likely return to it in the near future. For now, I will take up another novel that will hold my interest for a wee bit longer than this one.
February 12, 2020
My youth as a daughter of a farmer with everything in life seeming romantic helps identify with this Scott.
My ancestry is Scandinavian and the lifestyle just isn’t that different. The poetry embraces this world with those feelings of being sure not only do I understand Robert Burns intent but I relate to that life and that time in history.
My ancestry is Scandinavian and the lifestyle just isn’t that different. The poetry embraces this world with those feelings of being sure not only do I understand Robert Burns intent but I relate to that life and that time in history.
February 3, 2020
It was very interesting, very detailed and very thoroughly covered Robert Burns’ life and works!I would have taken even longer to read it but would have understood the Scottish words better had I realized that there was a glossary as the last chapter of the ebook!
April 30, 2020
William Gunnyon was my 3rd great grandfather. He was a noted author and teacher.
December 26, 2020
One is never really done reading poetry. I don’t know if it can every be finished and digested. One must always revisit it.
March 18, 2022
What can I say? It’s excellent! He’s a braw Scots lad!
July 4, 2023
Read:
Tam O'Shanter - 3/5
Tam O'Shanter - 3/5
February 26, 2024
British Lit class
February 7, 2011
Ha! Whare ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly,
I canna say but ye strut rarely
Owre gauze and lace,
Tho' faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place."
Happy Burns night!
Your impudence protects you sairly,
I canna say but ye strut rarely
Owre gauze and lace,
Tho' faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place."
Happy Burns night!
June 21, 2015
I could not relate in any way to this book or the poetry in it. I had seen a lot of people giving good reviews about this book, but that may be the ones who have a special interest in Scottish Poetry. In any case I am going to abandon it half the way to pursue something more interesting to me.
May 21, 2017
Must be read aloud -- that's it's charm. I couldn't read all of the poems; but most had at least sparks of life that made the reading enjoyable.
November 13, 2023
Magnificent. It's Robert Burns. Need I say more?
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews