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The range and variety of Burns's celebrity
is reflected in the websites devoted to him
and his work. Almost all provide a biography
of the poet, often with illustrations of the
Scottish landmarks associated with him; there
is usually at least a selection of his best-known
poems, and sometimes a few of the songs with
music; many sites explain the customs and traditions
that now surround his memory; and all provide
links to other Burns sites and to sites of more
general Scottish interest. The websites are
frequently fine examples of the iconography
of Burns, utilising the portraits, landscape
views and other images that cluster around his
life and works.
The enthusiasm and dedication of the organisations
and individuals who maintain these websites
are unmistakable and a tribute to Burns's reputation
as a poet for all. This does however mean that
serious literary criticism of his work is rare
on the net. Nevertheless, anyone seeking to
find out about Burns and his poetry will easily
find excellent introductions on-line, and as
well as access to almost all of his poetry the
web also provides some essays on the poet that
go beyond biography and adulation.
Christopher MacLachlan is Senior Lecturer in
English at the University of St Andrews. He
received his M.A. degree and his Ph.D. from
the University of Edinburgh. His areas of specialisation
include eighteenth-century English and Scottish
literature; the Scottish Enlightenment; modern
Scottish literature.
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you would like to study Robert Burns Poetry
further at university undergraduate or postgraduate
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The Official Robert Burns Site
http://www.robertburns.org
Robert Burns (National Library of Scotland site)
http://www.nls.uk/burns/index.htm
The Cambridge History of English and
American Literature (1907-21), edited by A.
W. Ward & A. R. Waller, Volume XI, section
10: Burns
http://www.bartleby.com/221/index.html#10
The Launch Pad for Exploring the World
of Robert Burns
http://www.robertburns.plus.com/launchrb.htm
The Bard - your complete guide
http://www.rabbie-burns.com/index.cfm
World Burns Club
http://www.worldburnsclub.com/
Robert Burns Club of Milwaukee
http://kyhana.echoechoplus.com/burns/index.html
A page of Burns links
http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/index.html
Ellisland Farm Museum
http://www.ellislandfarm.co.uk/index.asp
Hugh MacDiarmid denounces the Burns
Cult
http://www.yfinnie.demon.co.uk/contents3/Burns.html
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