Who was Robert Burns & Why all the Fuss?
Robert Burns is one of the most famous characters in Scottish Cultural History. His importance is immense, not only in terms of his fascinating story and his work but as a living tradition, carried from generation to generation throughout the World. Everyone, everywhere, who joins in the celebration of Scotland, Scottish Heritage or Scottish Culture, will witness references to Robert Burns. For many people who would like to understand the whole “Burns thing”, the first few steps can often be daunting. Much of the material available on Burns assumes a certain starting point. For instance, most books on Burns assume that the reader has a basic understanding of Who he was, Where he was from, Why he had such an impact etc etc. As such, there is a vast gulf between books carrying a few scant paragraphs on the basic background, through to the more detailed biographies, which address the initiated or knowledgeable “Burnsian.” For many, (particularly our friends abroad) the first reading of an
