Cairney On the Trail of Robert Burns

1. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-1-80425-215-4
Verlag: Luath Press
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 190 Seiten

Is there anything new to say about Robert Burns? John Cairney says it's time to trash Burns the Brand and come on the trail of the real Robert Burns. He is the best of travelling companions on the convivial, entertaining journey to the heart of the Burns story. Alloway - Burns' birthplace. Tam O' Shanter draws on the Alloway Kirk witch stories first heard by Burns in his childhood Mossgiel - Between 1784 and 1786 in a phenomenal burst out of creativity, Burns wrote some of his most memorable poems including 'Holy Willie's Prayer' and 'To a Mouse' Kilmarnock - The famous Kilmarnock edition of Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect published in 1786 Edinburgh - Fame and Clarinda (among others) embraced him. Dumfries - Burns died at the age of 37. The trail ends at the Burns Mausoleum in St Michael's Church graveyard. Internationally known as 'the face of Robert Burns', John Cairney believes that the traditional Burns tourist trail urgently needs to find a new direction. In an acting career spanning 40 years, he has often lived and breathed Robert Burns on stage. On the Trail of Robert Burns shows just how well he has got under the skin of Burns' character. This fascinating journey around Scotland is a rediscovery of Scotland's national bard as a flesh and blood genius.

John Cairney is internationally known as 'the face of Robert Burns' His one man shows about Scotlland's national bard have been popular for over forty years. John lives in New Zealand, but receives invitations to speak at Burns events around the world. For anyone intent on (literally) following in the footsteps of Rabbie Burns, this is the book. John Cairney makes the ideal travelling companion - knowledgeable about Burns's biography and haunts without being heavy, witty without being trite, controversial without being argumentative for the sake of it. His views about the standard Burns supper format may have raised the hacckles of a few traditionalists, but even more whisky glasses will be raised by those who, like John Cairney, wish to see the memory of Burns dusted off for the new century.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Cairney, John

Leseproben

A1 – Alloway pp.xx,1,49,97,148,151 William Burnes builds cottage 1757 and starts market garden. Robert Burns born 25 January 1759. Baptised as Presbyterian by Rev William Dalrymple of Ayr 26 January. William Burnes begins writing his Manual of Christian Belief. Robert attends Campbell’s school at Alloway Mill 1765. When school closes, John Murdoch hired to teach Burnes children at cottage. A2 – Ayr pp.xxv,5,7,109,152,153 Robert walks to Ayr for lessons in French and Latin from John Murdoch 1773. Attends School there for a time. Old Ayr Brig the inspiration for The Brigs o’ Ayr in 1786. A3 – Kirkoswald pp.9,98 Summer term at Hugh Roger’s school 1775. Inspired by Peggy Thomson, the ‘charming fillette’ next door. Visited on first Galloway Tour 1793. ‘Soutar Johnny’ Cottage in Main St. A4 – Dalrymple p.9 Robert and Gilbert attend school week in 1773. Robert attends dancing classes 1775. A5 – Tarbolton pp.10,21,89,95 Bachelors’ Club founded by Burns and others on 11 November 1780 in the upper back-room of an alehouse in the Sandgate. The building is now a museum. Inducted into St David’s Lodge No 174 on 4 July 1781. A6 – Irvine pp.1,12,21,58,142 Sent to learn flax-dressing with the Peacocks in the Glasgow Vennel 1781. Meets Captain Richard Brown, January 1782. A7 – Mauchline pp.xxi,xxviii,21,53,58,76,79,96,107,145 Meets Jean Armour, one of the Mauchline Belles, during Race Week 1784. Writes The Jolly Beggars after night in Poosie Nancie’s Inn 1785. Stayed at Johnny Dow’s tavern in 1787. Civil marriage to Jean in Gavin Hamilton’s office in April 1788. They set up their first house in the village. A8 – Kilmarnock pp.xxv,17,18,21,58,109,152,153 612 copies of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, published by John Wilson’s printing press at the Star Inn Close off King St. on 31 July 1786. Meets William Muir, Tam Samson. A9 – Girvan Stayed overnight on way back to Dumfries after first Galloway Tour with Syme 1793. A10 – Glasgow pp.xxv,57,58 Lodged at the Black Bull Inn in Argyle St. Meets Dr George Grierson. Got an order for 50 books from John Smith, the bookseller. Met up with Captain Richard Brown from Irvine – ‘had one of the happiest occasions of my life’ at the Black Bull. Also stayed at the Saracen’s Head Tavern in the Gallowgate in subsequent visits until 1791. Bought dress material for Jean’s wedding dress from Robert McIndoe, the draper, in Virginia St. in 1788 at a cost of four pounds, six shillings and ninepence! Betty Burns, his daughter by Anna Park married a Glasgow soldier, Private John Thomson, and lived in Pollokshaws in 1814. She is buried there. 40,000 Glaswegians paid a shilling each to the Glasgow Citizen newspaper to put up a statue to Burns. Most of them crowded into George Square on 25 January 1877 to see it unveiled. The Burns Room in the Mitchell Library in Anderston has one of the finest Burns collections in the world, and in 1999, the City of Glasgow bought the original manuscript of Auld Lang Syne for almost 120,000 pounds to add to it. A11 – Tarbert p.59 The unlikely starting place for his West Highland your in 1787. A12 – Inveraray pp.59,60,66 An unhappy visit to the Duke of Argyll who was busy. A13 – Arrochar pp.57,59 Wrote to Ainslie about ‘savage streams, savage mountains and savage inhabitants’. A14 – Tarbert Stayed at inn. Wrote a poem on the innkeeper’s daughter. A15 – Bannachra ‘Fell in with a merry party at a Highland gentleman’s hospitable mansion [Cameron House]… Danced till the ladies left us…’ A16 – Arden Met Tobias George Smollett, of the famous author’s family. A17 – Balloch p.61 Thrown from his horse in a race with a ‘breekless’ Highlander. A18 – Dumbarton pp.52,60,61 Given Freedom of the Burgh. A19 – Greenock pp.20,57 Supposed visit to see Mary Campbell’s grave and visit Campbell family in the hope of retrieving the Bible given to Highland Mary but was rebuffed by her family. A20 – Paisley pp.17,28,54,61,89 Meets Alexander Pattison and Dr John Taylor. Visits Taylor family. A21 – Sark p.49 Point near Gretna at which Burns crossed the border and returned into Scotland 2 June 1787. A22 – Annan pp.49,52 ‘Overtaken on the way by an old fish of a shoemaker…’. A23 – Dumfries pp.xxi,xxv,50,52,80,96,101,109,152,153 Given freedon of the burgh on June 4. Burns moved to Wee Vennel (now Bank St) in Nov 1791. 19 May 1793, moves to Mill Brae (now Burn St). Joins Royal Dumfries Volunteers 1795. Mausoleum at St Michael’s Kirkyard built by public subscription in 1819 to a design by T.F. Hunt, restored in 1936 by Herman Cowthraa. The Globe Inn, established c1610, was Burns’s local, (‘for these many years my favourite howff) and still operates as a tavern. A24 – Dalswinton pp.50, 52,75 Home of Patrick Miller, Burns’s landlord while at Ellisland. A25 – Lochmaben pp.52,144 Given freedom in 1787 (unauthenticated despite Burns’s letter of 9 Dec 1789). Burns visits Maria Riddell here while at Brow in 1796. A26 – Moffat pp.xxi,52,134 Jean Lorimer of the ‘lint-white locks’ lived at Craigieburn. Burns wrote many songs on her as Chloris. James Clarke, the schoolmaster was a friend. A27 – Sanquhar pp.52,91,96 Posted Ae Fond Kiss to ‘Clarinda’ 27 Dec 1791. A28 – Thornhill p.53 Passed through on 1787 tour. A29 – Parton p.122 Passed through on 1793 tour with John Syme. A30 – Airds p.122 Passed through on 1793 tour. A31 – Kenmure p.122 Stays at Kenmure Castle with Mr and Mrs John Gordon. Writes ode on dog. A32 – Gatehouse of Fleet p.132 Ruins good riding boots in 1793. Gets drunk with Syme at the Murray Arms Hotel in 1793. Passes through again Jun 1795. A33 – Kirkudbright p.52 Meets Lord Selkirk who takes Burns’s riding boots for mending by coach to Dumfries. Meets Pietro Urbani. A34 – St Mary’s Isle p.122 Composes ‘Selkirk Grace’ Extempor. A35 – Wigtown Passed through on return from first Galloway tour 1793. A36 – Daljarrock Ditto A37 – Lauriston Ditto A38 – Castle Douglas p.133 All alone in the Calilnwark Inn, he drinks port and writes letters by candlelight. A39 – Newton Stewart Passed through on second Galloway tour Jun 1795. A40 –...