The Real Robert Burns

Hughes, James L. (James Laughlin), 1846-1935Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 234K words
Chapters: 24

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Real Robert Burns by James L. HughesAuthor: Hughes, James L. (James Laughlin), 1846-1935,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Feb 17, 2011

Editor's review

The Real Robert Burns is a critical biography of the Scottish poet Robert Burns by James L. Hughes, written in English and published as a public-domain e-book by Project Gutenberg. The word "Real" in the title signals the author's attempt to recover a truer image of Burns, discussing the relationship between his life, character, and poetry. Hughes, an educator and author, writes in an evaluative and interpretive mode rather than piling up chronological detail, making the book suitable for readers who wish to understand Burns's poetry through the lens of the man himself. Its value lies in offering a personally judged interpretive path that can be read alongside selections of Burns's work, helping readers place the poems back in the circumstances of the poet's life. Readers should note that the book was written long ago and that some of its views carry the limitations of its era; it is best treated as a reference rather than a final authority. The e-book is free and easy to obtain, making it a useful supplementary text for courses in English literature.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the Scottish poet Robert Burns and his poetry
Students of English literature who need background on Burns's life and work
Readers who enjoy critical biography and want the author's personal interpretation

Not a good fit for

Readers who only want Burns's poems themselves and no biographical commentary
Researchers expecting detailed modern scholarship with full citations and notes
Beginners who find English reading difficult and need a Chinese guide

Reading tips

Read a few of Burns's best-known poems first, then this book, to better follow what the commentary refers to
Note the author's subjective judgments and check them against Burns's own poems
Read alongside a selected poems edition to build a rhythm of moving between life and work
Briefly verify the historical events mentioned, so as not to mistake old views for settled fact

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a biography of Burns or a poetry anthology?

It is a critical biography of Burns that discusses his life, character, and poetry; it is not an anthology. It quotes and comments on Burns's work, but its main subject is the author's interpretation of the poet, so readers are advised to have a poetry selection on hand for comparison.

What does "Real" in the title mean?

It indicates that the author tries to present a truer image of Burns, possibly arguing against certain biographical claims circulating at the time. This is a polemical approach, and readers should take it as the author's personal interpretation.

Is this book suitable as an academic research source?

It was written long ago, is largely interpretive, and lacks the detailed notes and scholarly apparatus of modern academic works. It is better suited as an introduction or supplementary reading about Burns the man; formal research should still consult modern scholarly biographies and annotated editions.

Comments

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About the author

Hughes, James L. (James Laughlin), 1846-1935 Author · Canadian · 1846–1935

James L. Hughes (1846–1935) was a Canadian educator who served for many years as superintendent of education in Toronto, leaving his mark on local educational administration and the promotion of teaching ideas. He wrote prolifically, and the two works held here both approach literary figures from an educational angle: Dickens As an Educator draws on the experiences of children and schooling in Dickens's novels to discuss teaching methods and humane concern, while The Real Robert Burns examines the life and character of the Scottish poet. Both books show a writer skilled at using literature to set out educational thought, in a plain, public-facing style that combines commentary with a gently instructive purpose. Public information is limited, so details of his life and the full range of his writings remain to be verified; yet from the surviving works it is clear that his central concern was always how education shapes people, and how literature may serve that end.