The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns [Hardcover]

Geddes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2002

Now available in the "Collins Classics" series, the classic James Barke edition of Burns's poems and songs was first published in 1955. This edition retains James Barke's original introduction and also includes: all of Burns's poems and songs, with a helpful glossary explaining difficult words; a chronology of Burns's life and a bibliography, both revised for this edition; and an introduction by the actor, novelist and critic John Cairney, who devised a one-man show on Robert Burns.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Geddes & Grosset (February 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855349825
• ISBN-13: 978-1855349827
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive collection of his work, April 8, 2003

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (Hardcover)

This book contains all Robert's poems, including epitaphs, plus all his song lyrics, but not the sheet music, because he did not compose any music. Of course, there is one song of his, Auld lang syne, which is extremely well known, although not many people are aware that he was its writer. This is not a biography, though some brief historical details are provided. If you want an in-depth biography, you must look elsewhere.

Robert Burns wrote about every topic you could imagine - love, nature, politics, people, anything that was topical in the late eighteenth century. Among the most famous poems are A red red rose (including the line Till a' the seas gang dry my dear), To a louse (including the line O wad the Power some giftie gie us) and To a mouse (including the line The best laid schemes o' mice and men).

The poems and songs are presented chronologically in the order of date written. Personally, I would have preferred the book divided into chapter, with each chapter covering a different theme, but it doesn't really matter. There is an index of first lines as well as an index of titles.

A glossary is provided to allow translation from Scottish to English. People sometimes joke that Britain and America are two countries separated by a common language, but this glossary is a reminder that the same can be said about Scotland and England. I cannot say how easy or difficult you will find the dialect. I was born of Scottish parents so I learned a bit as a child even though I was raised in England. Hopefully, you will most of it reasonably straightforward with a bit of practice. The quality of the poetry makes it well worth the effort.

Within the main book, at the bottom of each page, footnotes are provided to set the context of the poem or song where this is deemed useful. For example, Ballad of the American war has footnotes giving brief details of events between 1775 and 1784, so you will immediately realise that the poem doesn't just focus on the war itself, but also its aftermath.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've read the rest, now read the best, February 22, 2011

By 

Telamon "hcearwicker" (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns (Hardcover)

Why keep slaving along, trying to make sense of all those capital P poets who clutter the canon? Burns wrote his lyrics and poetry with the same big calloused hands that pushed his plow. Perhaps the most talented soul of the 18th century; it's coming yet for all that where all eyes shall see, and all ears hear the songs of this bard from the lowlands. And this is the edition to buy, the James Barke one.