Cover of The Letters of Robert Burns

The Letters of Robert Burns

  • Free to read
  • 8 hours to read
  • 63 chapters
  • Reading level: 8th & 9th grade

"The Letters of Robert Burns" by Robert Burns, selected and arranged with an introduction by J. Logie Robertson, is a collection of personal correspondence crafted during the late 18th century. This volume showcases Burns's prolific writing outside of his renowned poetry, capturing his honest reflections on life, love, and the human experience. It brings to light the personal thoughts of the renowned Scottish poet, revealing the depth of his character and relationships, often overlooked in favor of his poetic works. The opening of the collection presents an introduction that outlines the significance of Burns's letters, emphasizing how they rival his poetry in revealing his wit, sentimentality, and intellect. It notes that Burns's correspondence spans nearly sixteen years, addressing a wide variety of recipients from friends to notable figures, unveiling a rich tapestry of his emotions and thoughts. The introduction showcases several excerpts where Burns candidly expresses his feelings of love, reflective of his complex inner life, and reveals his struggles with societal expectations and personal aspirations. Through these letters, readers gain insight into the man behind the myth, as well as his progressive ideas on love and morality, making it a treasure trove for those interested in the personal side of this literary figure.

Read free now No app, no sign-up. Your place is saved automatically. Or download for your e-reader ↓
  • Burns, Robert, 1759-1796 · Correspondence
  • Poets, Scottish · 18th century · Correspondence

Read the opening

Chapter I: Thursday Evening [Dec. 6th, 1787]

MADAM,—I had set no small store by my tea-drinking tonight, and have not often been so disappointed. Saturday evening I shall embrace the opportunity with the greatest pleasure. I leave this town this day se'ennight, and, probably, for a couple of twelvemonths; but must ever regret that I so lately got an acquaintance I shall ever highly esteem, and in whose welfare I shall ever be warmly interested.

Our worthy common friend, in her usual pleasant way, rallied me a good deal on my new acquaintance, and in the humour of her ideas I wrote some lines, which I inclose you, as I think they have a good deal of poetic merit: and Miss Nimmo tells me you are not only a critic, but a poetess. Fiction, you know, is the native region of poetry; and I hope you will pardon my vanity in sending you the bagatelle as a tolerably off-hand jeu-d'esprit. I have several poetic trifles, which I shall gladly leave with Miss Nimmo, or you, if they were worth house room; as there are scarcely two people on earth by whom it would mortify me more to be forgotten, though at the distance of ninescore miles.—I am, Madam, with the highest respect, your very humble servant,

Keep reading The Letters of Robert Burns →

Contents

Show all 63 chapters
  1. Front Matter
  2. Chapter I: Thursday Evening [Dec. 6th, 1787]
  3. Chapter II: Saturday Evening, Dec. 8th, 1787
  4. Chapter III: Dec. 12, 1787
  5. Chapter IV: Thursday, Dec. 20, 1787
  6. Chapter V: Friday Evening, 28th December 1787
  7. Chapter VI: Thursday, Jan. 3, 1788
  8. Chapter VII: Saturday Noon [5th January]
  9. Chapter VIII: Jan. 8, 1788, Tuesday Night
  10. Chapter IX: Thursday Noon, 10th January 1788
  11. Chapter X: Saturday Morning, 12th January
  12. Chapter XI: Saturday, Jan. 12, 1788
  13. Chapter XII: Monday Evening, 11 o'clock, 14th January
  14. Chapter XIII: Tuesday Evening, Jan. 15
  15. Chapter XIV: Saturday Morning, 19th Jan
  16. Chapter XV: Sunday Night, 20th January
  17. Chapter XVI: [Monday, 21st Jan. 1788.]
  18. Chapter XVII: Thursday Morning, 24th January
  19. Chapter XVIII: [Friday, Jan. 25.]
  20. Chapter XIX: [Sat., 26 Jan.]
  21. Chapter XX: Sunday Noon, Jan. 27th
  22. Chapter XXI: Tuesday Morning, 29th January
  23. Chapter XXII: Sunday Morning, 3rd February
  24. Chapter XXIII: Thursday Night, Feb. 7, 1788
  25. Chapter XXIV: Wednesday, 13th February
  26. Chapter XXV: Wednesday Midnight [Feb. 13]
  27. Chapter XXVI: Thurs., 14 Feb
  28. Chapter XXVII: Thursday, 14th Feb., Two o'clock
  29. Chapter XXVIII: February 15th, 1788
  30. Chapter XXIX: GLASGOW, Monday Evening, 9 o'clock, 18th Feb. 1788
  31. Chapter XXX: CUMNOCK, 2nd March 1788
  32. Chapter XXXI: Mauchline, 6 Mar
  33. Chapter XXXII: MOSSGIEL, 7th March 1788
  34. Chapter XXXIII: EDINBURGH, 18th March 1788
  35. Chapter XXXIV: Friday 9 [p.m., 21st March 1788]
  36. Chapter I: DUMFRIES, 16th September 1792
  37. Chapter II
  38. Chapter III
  39. Chapter IV: Inclosing "Highland Mary". — Tune — Katharine Ogie
  40. Chapter V: 26th January 1793
  41. Chapter VI: 20th March 1793
  42. Chapter VII: 7th April 1793
  43. Chapter VIII: April 1793
  44. Chapter IX: June 1793
  45. Chapter X: June 25th 1793
  46. Chapter XI: July 1793
  47. Chapter XII: August 1793
  48. Chapter XIII: Sept. 1793
  49. Chapter XIV: September 1793
  50. Chapter XV: September 1793
  51. Chapter XVI: May 1794
  52. Chapter XVII: Sept. 1794
  53. Chapter XVIII: 19th October 1794
  54. Chapter XIX: November 1794
  55. Chapter XX
  56. Chapter XXI: 19th Nov. 1794
  57. Chapter XXII: January 1795
  58. Chapter XXIII: Ecclefechan,[148] 7th Feb. 1795
  59. Chapter XXIV
  60. Chapter XXV: April 1796
  61. Chapter XXVI: [Probably May 1796.]
  62. Chapter XXVII: Brow-on-Solway, 4Th July 1796
  63. Chapter XXVIII: BROW, on the Solway Firth, 12th July 1796

Download for your e-reader

Files are provided by Project Gutenberg. On a Kindle, the simplest route is to send the EPUB with Amazon’s Send to Kindle. Downloaded copies don’t sync with your place on Classic Book Reader.

About this edition

This free edition of The Letters of Robert Burns by Robert Burns comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #9863, released 2006-02-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies, Essays, Letters & Speeches, British Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

More by Robert Burns