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Robert Burns gifts and souvenirs are very popular in Scotland. With Scots and tourists alike buying items to mark special occasions. Roberts Burns Scottish gifts are typically given as a token of love.

Robert Burns is without doubt one of the world’s leading literary figures. Most know his name but who was he? The following paragraphs provide a brief introduction to the life and works of Robert Burns. So perhaps the next time you sing Auld Lang Syne on New Years Eve or buy a gift for someone with a Burns inscription you will have a bit of background information.

Robert Burns was born into a poor farmers family in Alloway in 1759 He was the eldest of seven children. Despite his poor background Robert Burns’ father, William Burness, ensured his son was well read and received a good education.

Like his father Robert Burns was destined to become a farmer. However his early interest in poetry lead to his life taking a different path. His work was first published in 1786. Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish dialect, known as the Kilmarnock Volume, was an immediate success and received critical acclaim.

Not only a lover of poetry Robert Burns had an eye for the ladies. Shortly before the publication of his first works he was planning a new life in the West Indies due to his indiscretions with the opposite sex. He fathered several illegitimate children. The success of his first book and his love for his children lead to Burns abandoning his plans to move to the Indies. Two of Robert Burns’ children were born by Jean Armour in 1786 who he later married in 1788.

After the success of his first publication Robert Burns travelled to Edinburgh where he was well received by the aristocratic families and literary figures of the time.

Walter Scott wrote the following:

“His person was strong and robust; his manners rustic, not clownish, a sort of dignified plainness and simplicity which received part of its effect perhaps from knowledge of his extraordinary talents. His features are presented in Mr Nasmyth’s picture but to me it conveys the idea that they are diminished, as if seen in perspective. I think his countenance was more massive than it looks in any of the portraits … there was a strong expression of shrewdness in all his lineaments; the eye alone, I think, indicated the poetical character and temperament. It was large, and of a dark cast, and literally glowed when he spoke with feeling or interest. I never saw such another eye in a human head, though I have seen the most distinguished men of my time.”

Burns was an overnight success.

It has been said that factors other than Burns’ exceptional talent and character lead to his popularity. The Act Of Union of 1707 with England and Wales and failure of the Jacobite uprisings had lead to a feeling of Scotland’s rich and powerful having failed their own people. This lead to discontentment with the ruling establishment and a belief that Scotland’s hope and inspiration lay with the common people. The country was ready for a high profile figure with a humble background, “The Ploughman Poet”.

Celebrity is normally associated with wealth. This was not the case for Robert Burns. To supplement his small income Burns became an exciseman. Due to his sharp mind he was very successful in extracting unpaid fines from the wealthy. During this period he also continued to write.

Robert Burns died in 1796. It is thought that a heart condition exacerbated by his early years of hard farm labour contributed to his untimely end. Over 10 thousand are said to have attended his funeral.

In his final years Burns penned his best known work including The Lea Rig, Tam O’Shanter and a Red, Red Rose. By the time of his death he had also written over 400 songs.

If you would like to find out more there are many websites giving further information .

As mentioned at the start there are many Robert Burns gift items available in Scottish gift shops . Perhaps one of the more popular items is the Quaich. This is a shallow dish with two (sometimes three) handles. Quaichs are used to toast special occasions scubas Burns Night, New Years Eve, and weddings with a “wee dram” of whisky. The Roberts Burns Quaichs today carry inscriptions such as “Auld Lang Syne”, “Whisky Gang The Gither”, the Selkirk Grace, and “Love Thee Still”.

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