What was robert burns famous for

It is a good example of Burns' diversity as a writer as his sense of humour is clear in the poem. Warlocks and witches in a dance: Nae cotillon, brent new frae France, But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels, Put life and mettle in their heels.

The simple yet timeless lyrics of A Red, Red Rose describes a love that does not lessen with the passage of time. O my Luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June: O my Luve's like the melodie, That's sweetly play'd in tune. Is there for Honest Poverty is one of the places where Burns expresses his fierce egalitarianism most strongly, stating that good sense and an independent mind are worth far more than titles and finery. Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine; A Man's a Man for a' that:.

Visit advice page. Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway. Did you know? Address to a Haggis Address to a Haggis is Burns' humorous ode to the humble haggis. Address to a Haggis is dramatically recited at Burns Suppers on 25 January every year.

Alas, we may never know how Burns would have felt about Brexit. Though a friend to reform, Burns published his sentiments anonymously: as an exciseman and therefore a government employee, he had to maintain an outward show of loyalty to King George. Earlier editors such as James Currie, for example, tried to distance the poet from his pornographic poems, while obscenity laws which were not relaxed until the lateth century prevented their widespread publication.

There are statues of Burns all over the world, in places as far afield as North America and New Zealand. His likeness has appeared on bank notes, postage stamps, and Coca Cola bottles, and an edition of his poems has even been sent into space. Burns has had many admirers, from other poets and writers through to world leaders. For example, US president Abraham Lincoln was a big fan of Burns and could recite lines of his poems by heart. Many of the ideas presented here are explored further in the online courses run by the Centre and in their AHRC-funded research project Editing Robert Burns for the 21st century.

Sign in. Back to Main menu Virtual events Masterclasses. After the death of his father in , Burns inherited the farm but by he was in terrible financial difficulties: the farm was not successful and he had made two women pregnant. He was persuaded not to leave Scotland by Dr Thomas Blacklock and in an Edinburgh edition of the poems was published.

He married Jean Armour in — she had been one of his many women during his early life. A farm was bought, Ellisland, on the banks of the River Nith near Dumfries, but unfortunately the farm did not prosper and Burns ceased farming in and became a full-time exciseman.

A problem soon arose as the steady income from this employment gave him ample opportunity to continue with his hard drinking which had long been his weakness.