3 Facts About Robert Burns That May Surprise You

With Burns night upon us, what’s 3 facts about Robert Burns that may surprise you? Firstly, Burns was a massive hit in Russia. He even became known as the people’s poet of Russia. His poems were translated into Russian during the Imperial period and into the Soviet period. In 1924, a new Russian translation of Burns work sold an astonishing 600,000 copies. In 1956, Burns even featured on a Soviet stamp.

Secondly, when Burns was in financial difficulties after not making a success of farming, he was on the verge of moving to Jamaica to work on a sugar plantation as a book keeper or assistant overseer of slaves. To fund his passage overseas and raise funds in general however, he was encouraged to publish his poems by a subscription model.

He comprised his Scots poems into a volume and sent it off to John Wilson, a Kilmarnock printer. On the 31 July 1786, John Wilson published Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish dialect by Robert Burns, known as the Kilmarnock volume. It sold for 3 shillings. It was an instant success, so much so that the Jamaica move never happened, as Burns made money off his great passion. He moved to Edinburgh instead.

Thirdly, Burns fathered 12 children by four women, including 9 with his wife, Jean Armour. Initially, Burns reputation as a womaniser was so bad that Jean’s father initially forbade it, but they finally got married in 1788. 3 of their 9 children survived infancy.

Burns, a man who died at the tender age of 37 in 1796, is still celebrated across the world over 200 years after his death, which speaks to the quality of his work. Thanks for watching and happy Burns night.

Sources:

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[celtichistorydecoded]

Happy Burns Night (even though it's a day late). Please let me know your thoughts below...

[jaculton]

A little known passed in our family. Burns wasn't born in the cottage but one across the road. Which was at that time on the other side. It was a stormy night and the roof of the cottage started to lift. So they crossed the road to a neighbour.

[stella]

Ey up Steven Goch!
That means I was only two days off being born on Burns night!
Forget Shakespeare…Rabbie is where it’s at. The lyrical value of the man was immense, many of his literature works were made into fantastic songs.
My favourite line will always be: “What ails ye now, ye lousy bitch.” I didn’t know that word existed back then and in that context too Lol!!!

[huwzebediahthomas]

Happy Burns Night last night, CHD.
Oh the games of mice and men. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[Mountainman]

He’s a hypocrite of the highest calibre. I’ve heard it said that there is a very strong argument that subsequent study of his correspondence with friends has raised concerns that he forced himself on women.