Contrary to a' that, Burns paints with a brush dripping in Scotland's landscapes and ruins, the Scottish people from the lowest to the highest ranks, her history, her auld drink, her cuisine, her politics, her vermin, her heroes, her vanities, her pets, her monsters and legends, her ancient feuds and most hated enemies, etc, and the canvas that the paint drips onto is, in my estimation (for what little it is worth), a vivid portrait of Scotland, at least as vivid as any national poet has ever painted, and I'm willing to include all the national poets I haven't read (a vast majority) in this recklessly bold claim; but Burns' writing also has a great charm in it's use of Scots dialect along with English.

McIntyre is enthusiastic but always objective and his work brings us the clearest, most sharply appreciated portrait of this great poet. Ian McIntyre produced the wonderful biography of the Scotland's most famous poet to commemorate the 250th anniversary of his death. I even found a few that I enjoyed, although the one entitled Halloween was not what I thought it would be. ex-library, usual library markings, mild foxing to edges, otherwise a clean, sound, reading copy, mild usage, octavo, 324 pages.

Burns postponed his planned emigration to Jamaica on 1 September, and was at Mossgiel two days later when he learnt that Jean Armour had given birth to twins. As my good fortune would have it, I stumbled upon this great poet as I walked through George's Square in Glasgow and perused the statues and the names attached to them, the tallest and most central statue being of Robert Burns, of course. At the 3 week Celtic Connections festival Glasgow each January, Burns songs are often performed with both fiddle and guitar. Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections - they may also appear in recommendations and other places. Expert, sparky, and entertaining, Paul Malgrati's book will appeal to anyone interested in Robert Burns or in modern Scotland's history, culture and politics.

Robert Burns, the most celebrated of all Scottish poets, is remembered with great devotion - his birthday on 25th January provokes fervour and festivity among Scots and many others the world over.Incidentally, I recently got my godson the Complete Works because, I trust, as he grows up he’ll be a man of independent mind.