Today In History: Poems, by Robert Burns Is Published

YE flowery banks o' bonnie Doon,
    How can ye blume sae fair!
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
    And I sae fu' o' care!

-- Robert Burns, [1791-1792].

Printed and issued by John Wilson of Kilmarnock, Scotland, on July 31st, 1786,  Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect by Robert Burns celebrated the lives of working people, their animals, and farms through the beauty and lyricism of the local tongue. Known as the Kilmarnock Edition, this landmark publication was limited in availability, but obtainable via "subscription" at a mere three shillings per paper bound copy.  Proving high in demand and of high literary value, it served to recognize Robert Burns as the national poet of Scotland, and one who would achieve worldwide praise and literary influence.

Of humble origins, "Rabbie Burns" was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland on January 25, 1759, the eldest son of William Burns and Agnes Broun, tenant farmers who raised a family of seven children.  Largely home schooled in reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and history by his father, and partially tutored in grammar, French, and Latin, Robert became his family's principal farm laborer at Mount Oliphant. He endured a life of poverty and hardship, but profusely wrote, fell in love, debated with peers, and began contributing to multi-volume song collections that included The Scots Musical Museum (1787-1803) and Original Scottish Airs (1793-1818). 

To help make ends meet and support his family, Robert Burns accepted an offer to work as a book keeper on a sugar plantation in Jamaica, but he cancelled his sea voyage due to the quick success of the Kilmarnock Edition.  It was released shortly thereafter in expanded form, known as the Edinburgh Edition (with later editions to follow).

Burns, who died from a rheumatic heart condition on July 21st, 1796 at the age of thirty-seven years, was a pioneer of the Romantic Movement who also inspired future liberal and social thinkers though his egalitarian, anti-establishment, and democratic views.  He was husband to Jean Armour, the" Belle of Mauchline", and father to thirteen children. His birthplace home, the Burns Cottage in Alloway, is under the National Trust of Scotland, close to Alloway Auld Kirk (Old Church) and Brig O'Doon (Bridge over the River Doon, that begins in Loch Doon and flows for about thirty-eight miles northwest into the Firth of Clyde). 

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• The Authentic Portraits of Robert Burns: Accounts of His Appearance by Contemporaries -- The Taylor Portrait.  (1893, Sep 23). The Scotsman (1860-1920) 
• The Preface Burns Wrote: Interesting Foreword to the "Kilmarnock" Edition of His Poems Published in 1786. (1911, Jul 30). New York Times (1857-1922) 
• Oliver, J. W. (1946, Jan 19). Robert Burns: Varying Phases in the Poets Renown. The Scotsman (1921-2002) 
• A First Volume of Burns' Poems for U.S. Library: Hanover, N. H., Jan. 20. (1957, Jan 22). South China Morning Post (1946-) 
• Daiches, D., & Oberbeck, S. K. (1967, Feb 06). Local Bard. Newsweek, 69, 102. 
• Callahan, R. (1971, Sep 26). Prestwick: Robert Burns Country. Boston Globe (1960-) 
• Cross, C. (1972, Aug 13). Farmer-Poet Who Preached Equality. The Observer Magazine (1964-), , 22. 
• Low, D. A. (1985, May 25). The Year of the Golden Harvest: The Appearance in 1788 of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect -- Best Known as the Kilmarnock Edition -- Marked Robert Burns as a Poet of the First Rank.  The Scotsman (1921-2002) 
• Auld Acquaintance Who Is Not Forgot: William St Clair Reflects on the Enduring Popularity of Robert Burns. (1987, Jan 20). South China Morning Post (1946-) 
• Bold, A. (1989, Jan 22). Skulduggery with the Bard's Brains: Phrenology Alan Bold Describes an Experiment to Discover the True Character of Robert Burns. The Observer (1901- 2009) 

Tips:

• Burns, R. (1773).  Poem: “The Banks of Doon”. Manuscript Group 1. Teachers College Digital Collections.
• Burns, R. (1910). Songs & Poems of Robert Burns / Tr. into Scottish Gaelic by Chaarles Macphater. Alex M’Laren & Son ; R.G. Mann, [1910?]. e-book.
• Burns, R., Gentz, N., & Confucius Institute for Scotland. (2010). Selected Poems by Robert Burns in Chinese Translation (1st ed.). Edinburgh University Press. e-book.
• Marshall, J. (1846). A Winter with Robert Burns, Being Annals of His Patrons and Associates in Edinburgh during the year 1786-7, and Details of His Inauguration as Poet-Laureate of the Can: Kil. e-book.
• Pittock, M. (2014). The Reception of Robert Burns in Europe. Bloomsbury.  e-book.
• Sood, A.  (2018). Robert Burns and the United States of America Poetry, Print, and Memory 1786–1866.  e-book.

Images:

• Photograph of The Banks of Doon, Courtesy of Teachers College, Columbia University.
• Portrait of Robert Burns, Wipedia.
• Royaume d'Ecosse (Map of Scotland), date unknown.  Private Collection.

Need to keep current, look to the past, teach a topic? The Everett Cafe features daily postings of news from around the world, and also promotes awareness of historical events from an educational context. Be sure to check additional Cafe News postings on the library blog