Robert Burns: A Life

Ian Mcintyre

No other poet excites such fanatical worldwide devotion as Robert Burns (otherwise known as Rabbie Burns Scotland's Favourite Son the Ploughman Poet the Bard of Ayrshire or simply the Bard). Ian McIntyre's biography first published to mark the bicentenary of Burns's death and revised here for the 250th anniversary of his birth is still considered the best take on a notorious and often over-romanticised life.

McIntyre's meticulous use of documentary and archival sources strips away myth and legend. Here we meet the man - eminently capable of holding two contradictory political views at the same time he was just as capable of being in love with several women at once. McIntyre also fully evaluates Burns' songs and poetry and brings to light the importance and quality of his satirical verse. McIntyre is enthusiastic but always objective and his work brings us the clearest most sharply appreciated portrait of this great poet.

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