Dismantling the Burns Myths

 

(Or attempting to!)  Our Scots bard has been portrayed at times as a reckless, womanising drunk, and his poetry work has not been taken seriously by academics and educators. I believe these false myths are far from the truth and are of serious consideration. Because our national bard continues to this day to have a significant impact on Scots national image and psyche. 

He has written some of Scots most loved poetry and songs and we celebrate Burns night each January 25^th.

 

He has been dismissed as an uneducated farmer. These myths matter, because as our Scots national bard Burns image is one of the most famous image for Scots. It matters on our images of “Scottishness” and of our long history of Scots cultural identity. 

  In fact Burns was voted by Scots as the most iconic Scots image, much like Mozart’s image in Vienna. During Victorian empire times Burns was viewed as part of the empire narrative associated to Walter Scott’s romantic Scottish nostalgia – of a Scotland that was lost and gone forever – and this image focused on Burns love poems, while neglecting his other work.

 

The elites, the academics and literati in Edinburgh found it hard to accept the farmer Burns in his boots, who never attended university: but was self-educated through his local education, his father and his own reading. He met the great and the good here and began his song collecting journeys, after meeting James Jamieson who published the Scot musical museum.    

  

Burns was far more than the peasant farmer or ploughman poet and was highly educated. What is often ignored is that Burns father was a cultured, disciplined and well spoken man himself, who greatly valued education for his family. His mother knew and sang all the old Scots ballads. For a few years Burns attended a school in Ayr, where he was taught by the young teacher John Murdoch, at the age of seven, and he became a great reader. After which he and Gilbert were tutored by Murdoch over the occasional summer months.

 

 Yes he may have occasionally enjoyed social drinking, but as he writes from Ellisland to his friend Robert Cunningham in 1791, after a party when he had sold off the Ellisland farm equipment:  “After the roup was over, about thirty people engaged in a battle and fought it out for three hours. Nor was the scene much better in the house. Not fighting, indeed, but folk lying drunk on the floor and decanting, until both my dogs got so drunk by attending them, that they could not stand. You will easily guess how I enjoyed the scene as I was no further over than you used to see me.”  

Tam O Shanter by Alexander Goudie

Anchors Close Edinburgh

Edina , the New World

Poozie Nansies

Burns & highland Mary

Library books Ellisland

There has been too much negativity written. Why? Was it because Burns didn’t fit into normal accepted norms, and had friends he met at the Globe Inn who were reformers for votes for all men? Because he grew up the son of a tenant farmer?  Because he was a free, independent thinker, who challenged the elites narratives. Or mainly because he wrote in the Scots language and therefore was not to be taken seriously. 

Considering all Burns writing, studying, researching and collecting – his many letters, poems, songs and epistles. His years of toil and hard farm labour growing up, plus his Scotia travels during his short life and all the myths that surround him. I find it hard to believe that Burns was a hard drinker as some myths put out. Because, how did he find time to write some of his best poetry at Ellisland and in Dumfries – plus his Excise work of detailed record keeping, long days travelling on horseback and being a young father. 

Burns poetry and song have become a symbolic touchstone of Scottish identity for generations, The Patriot Bard, by Patrick Scott Hogg

 

In the age of enlightenment Burns believed in the power of reason and common sense. When there was a crackdown on democratic reform. The Jacobite cause was symbolic of the country’s lost, romantic past. The tyrannical oppression of the Pitt government

brought the enlightenment movement to its knees, and silenced the leading minds of a generation. Burns risked his life and freedom to continue composing such radical material of social satire during his last few years. He published anonymously Scots Wa Hae as he considered it too seditious.

Correcting Scotland’s history mistakes

 

So often, so many mistakes and errors of Scotland’s recorded histories are either ignored, or over written by the powers that be. In encyclopaedias the words Britain and England are conflated constantly – as they are often for Americans. Interchangeable terms, who don’t know their geography.

 

In the National,10 Feb 2026, there was an article on a book entitled: 

Queen James, the Life and Loves of Britain’s first King. 

 

Error! Britain did not come into existence until 1707 after the Union of the Parliaments.

James Stewart (1567-1603) was King of the 'kingdom of Scotland' -  and after the Union of the Crown, was king of both the 'kingdom of England' and the 'kingdom of Scotland'  from 1603 to 1625.  (James worked to encourage a Britain, to secure his position on the English throne no doubt (after the death fo Elizabeth Tudor of England.) 

 

The Scottish Parliament had sat for 200 years before this union – latterly sitting in St Giles.  

When I look back and read of the Scotland before union 1707, the once independent Scotland is a different country. Its a place of a confident trading nation, with the exchange of people and ideas across the continents – to Flanders Japan, the Americas. Historian Tom Devine says that Scotland has for centuries has long been an outward looking country. 

 

The Wars of Independence with Wallace and Bruce 1314, were in fact Wars of Succession, ad civil wars. Because before this Scotland had always been an independent nation! Scotland’s first king was Kenneth I was King of dal Raida (841-850) and King of the Picts (848-858)

From the time of the Scottish Reformation (1560- 1640)  Scotland’s scholars went to Paris university to study and to teach. Education was greatly encouraged for all young boys. Form 1750 to 1790 there was the Scottish enlightenment. Scots were part of the American founding fathers.

 

The Big Questions facing Scotland today are – is this is a union of two kingdoms supposedly, there therefore must be a route out of this failing union. 

Its time we pointed out these important and crucial errors, which happen constantly. Ignorance of the past does not help our views of the present realities or our futures. There is not enough history taught in schools across Britain -  compared to elsewhere. So that both sides of the border, people have more knowledge and understanding of the true histories of both Scotland and England.

Kenneth I

The Silk Roads EIBF 2025

 

In 2015, British historian Peter Frankopan changed the way we think about the historical relationship between East and West, with his book The Silk Roads: A New History of the World. The book shifted focus from the West towards Eastern civilisation, religion, and industry, and opened up research on previous eras of exchange and collaboration. 

The Silk Roads was a ground breaking book that explored the significance of the east on the development of ideas and trade: and shifted views of global power and on the history of our great civilizations. His new Silk Roads book is his updated version. 

 

Peter Frankopan, who is professor of Byzantine studies at Oxford university gave an energetic and enthusiastic talk, that at times also jumped with too much information overload and was not a seamless narrative. He praised the historic beauty of Edina. 

His book explores the spread of people, trade and ideas & religion (Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam) – across Persia before developing in the Mediterranean. He places the centre of the world further east, beyond Mesopotamia, and the Caucuses, in Iran and the “stans” - and not the Mediterranean. He spoke of the great city of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul which was the centre of the Roman empire. Also other great cities of Babylon and Mesopotamia. And the Mongol empire. The ancient Dunhuang at the British library. 

 

The Silk roads was first coined in 1871 by German geographer, Ferdinand van Richthofen. Christianity spread and Islam too. Science and philosophy spread from east to west long before the voyages of Columbus. 

 

He stated that the exploration of the silk roads was started by Alexander the Great who travelled across the Persian empire. He headed east to the home of the great cities and people and he brought the Greek culture to Indus valley and the Buddha was given form. Two thousand years ago Chinese silks were worn by the Carthaginians and Iranian elites used Provencal pottery. There were Indian spices in Afghan and Roman kitchens.

 

He challenges ‘euro centrism’ with fascinating stories of the rise of globalization. In 1492 there were the European voyages of discovery of the west outwards with the exchange of people, goods and ideas. In our European museums layouts we display firstly Egypt, Greece, and Rome and therefore view the narratives of civilization as centre around the Mediterranean. The Silk Roads is about how the Pacific connects to Britain and Europe. Trade changes history and access to rare metals and also caused the spread of disease.

 

However he ignores the achievements of the Far East – such as gunpowder, mechanical clocks and compass. Chinese paper making was brought to Persia (Chinese block printing 6^th century) and movable –type printing press Pi Sheng 1040. And India – science, maths, astrology.

 

Are the Silk Roads now only a bridge between the geopolitical powered of the west - Europe, North America, and to the emerging east of China and India? There is also no mention of the European enlightenment or the thriving life around the North Sea.

 

India has to choose between Russia and Europe. 

Russia is the biggest supplier of refined fuel, 

Shanghai, top 20 ports many into Africa. 

UAE investing in Africa.   

 

Peter Frankopan is a British historian, writer. He is a professor of global history at Worcester College, Oxford, and the Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research. He is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society. He is best known for his 2015 book The Silk Roads.

 

 

 

Cultural History Disconnects

Cultural History Disconnects

 

I had a big disconnect between my primary school and secondary school. At primary we had Scottish dancing, Scots poetry and song. Then at secondary we had no Scottish history, culture or music at all. Only English literature, history and music. Quite a strange disconnect. We used to go to the military tattoo at the castle every year. 

 

Then I attended college down the cobbled royal mile Edinburgh, and wondered about all the history here – the Canongate Kirkyard, John Knox house, St Giles, Holyrood, the Grassmarket – and the castle. 

 

Going to secondary school Edina, I travelled across the town by bus via princes street. I passed a statue to the Scotch Bard Robert Burns at the bottom of Leith walk each day. On the top deck there were many teenagers in brightly coloured blazers who spoke with posh English accents and I wondered where they came from. In Edina around 25% of children attend private schools. 

 

No it wasn’t and isn’t an integrated melting pot at all but a stiff social hierarchy here. Back in the 60s though, young people had more options to go to study. Houses were built to offer greater social mixing, but that often hasn't succeeded. When people don't feel they have things in common, many put up defensive barriers. 

 

Visiting Holyrood palace I once picked up a small blue book on the Stuart kings of Scotland. I became fascinated by the Scots history and stories. I visited the Scottish national galleries, with their many portraits of Scottish royalty. My parents were from Northern Ireland, so I was very confused, as no doubt they were too. 

Scots & 250 Years of Founding American Independence

 

The general ignorance of Scots history and contributions worldwide. How many Scots have heard of the “Scottish Enlightenment” – or have any idea what it was about? I’d guess only a few Scots have any idea at all. I’d never heard of the Scottish enlightenment until I attended at talk by historian Tom Devine. And I studied for higher History at school – which was all English history. 

 

Ian Houston from Global Scots network - discussed the direct part Scots played in the foundations of American independence. The linkages and the connections. 

 

Many Key Philosophical ideas came from the Scottish Enlightenment from 1740s onward and - " The social contract that government derives its power from the consent of the governed." And from the Declaration of Arbroath 1320.

Declaration of Arbroath 1320

Professor Small was teaching in Virginia, and one of the pupils was Thomas Jefferson, one of America's founding fathers. While Benjamin Franklin visited Scotland and met the Scottish philosophers – David Hume and Adam Smith.

There are many opportunities for modern Scotland – with its progressive universities and social enterprise. To embrace opportunities, to be aspirational. 

Houston said there is lots to be celebrated and all the diversity that exists in Scotland. He also said there ’has also been difficulties over the years in America with – the Bill of Rights, civil war, slavery.

 

https://www.globalscot.com/

 

 

Repair at Edinburgh book festival 2025

EIBF at Futures Institute

'Together We Repair' at Edinburgh International book festival EIBF 2025. The question now is – to repair what path must we follow. We are mostly confused. 

**EIBF 2025

Edinburgh international book festival 2025 program has been announced, 

Runs from 9^th August to 24^th August. This year our program features over 600 writers and artists from 35 countries, who have a wide range of perspectives on topics of personal, social and global importance.

 

And will included famous names such as Nicola Sturgeon, Irvine Welsh and Diane Abbott

Authors Maggie O’Farrell and Alexander McCall Smith, actors Brian Cox, Viggo Mortensen, Sam Heughan, and Vanessa Redgrave. The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers band will perform, with novelists Chris Brookmyre and Val McDermid. 

Sturgeon will launch her memoir, Frankly, and will be in conversation with journalist Kirsty Wark as part of the Front List series. While Welsh will discuss his new novel Men In Love, which features the characters from Trainspotting as they experience the heyday of rave culture in the late 80s and early 90s.

*Plus workshops. Bookbinder Rachel Hazell will lead a workshop, Junk Journals Workshop, where old books will be re-fashioned into journals.

This year’s children’s program will include more than 100 events for young readers, including from renowned authors Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson and Cressida Cowell. 

*Words from the Wards - With Illustrations by art students

We believe that everyone has a story to tell and that stories help us make sense of our world. We’ve challenged local writers and poets, this year, to respond to 2025’s Festival theme: Repair. Join us as we bring them together to perform their work: a patchwork of ideas on how to make the world a better place.

 

“We invite you to come and learn something new, feed your curiosity and to broaden your horizons.”

PLUS illustrations for Words from the Wards, the festivals Children’s program. 

Festival director Jenny Niven said: “This year’s key theme of Repair starts from the belief that the brilliant ideas of writers and thinkers can help us repair a host of seemingly ‘broken’ things in our society, from the cycle of fast fashion and our relationship with the environment, to cultural reparations and the state of our politics. It’s a statement of hope and resilience, and an invitation for our audiences to think about what ‘repair’ might mean for them.

“At a time when important conversations can feel impossible to have without igniting conflict and anger, we want the Edinburgh International Book Festival to provide a safe place for challenging but considered discussions. This year our program features over 600 writers and artists from 35 countries, who have a wide range of perspectives on topics of personal, social and global importance. We invite you to come and learn something new, feed your curiosity and to broaden your horizons.”

 

Ian McEwan – Sunday August 13:30 – 14:30 

 

Sam Haeughan: on the Rocks – Saturday 23 August 18:15 – 19:15

 

AC Grayling: Disagreeing Agreeably – Friday 22 August 17:00 – 18:00

 

Sometimes it feels like we can’t talk about anything without further polarising opinions. Join author and philosopher A C Grayling as he seeks the middle-ground in an incendiary debate. Drawing from his new book, Discriminations: Making Peace in the Culture Wars, Grayling shares a fresh take on how we might navigate the messy politics of cultural conflict by recognising the nuance between competing rights and interests.

Some famous names – speak up!  The People Speak – Sunday 24 August 17:00- 18:00

Acclaimed writers and actors, including Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings, Captain Fantastic) and iconic Vanessa Redgrave (The Devils, Atonement, Mrs Dalloway), for powerful performances of stories, speeches, and songs of protest and rebellion from around the world, and across history. Inspired by the work of people’s historian Howard Zinn and directed by Anthony Arnove (co-editor with Colin Firth of The People Speak), their words shimmer with strength, inspiration, and a vision for a better future. Hosted by Anthony Arnove.

 

*Together We repair Edinburgh International book festival EIBF 2025 

The question now is – to repair what path must we follow.

Half of Scots want independence. Would federalism work? Does Labour work? A big white hope their limited business plan. While Reeves believes in tight reins and her fiscal rules. Scotland is stuck under City of London rules.

 

An economic policy for best outcomes for the people of Scotland. 

'Scotland is a land laden with opportunity,' writes economist Richard Murphy.

We are not small at all – Why are Scots politicians afraid when there is only fear of fear itself.

 

I hear a Drunk man looks at a Thistle,

Parcel of Rogues bought and sold

I hear freedoms sword will strongly draw. 

I hear Scotland is stuck, 

Certainly we must Repair - The big question is -

How much disrepair, crisis, emergency is Britain in?

It seems to be a lot. We can’t ignore. Years of a tough austerity and lack of investment – 

followed by Covid, the damage of Brexit, cost of living crisis, 

with crumbling infrastructure and lack of funding. 

New Labour offer a few crumbs.

 

Repair? Is it possible, in our stuck, fake, out-dated systems here in Britain? Stuck in its 1688 British Constitution?

We must ask how serious is Britain’s crisis? Political debate has become like a meaningless ping pong ball that no one believes anymore. We’re all lied to. But when Consultants feel disillusioned we must surely worry. And when politicians these days are not serious people. 

 

Glasgow 850

Del Amitri

Glasgow is a city of surprises. Dotted around the city centre are many impressive, architecturally interesting buildings. The city also boasts several unique areas that offer culturally fun walks. Glasgow is a vibrant city of the arts. Its a challenging, dynamic place. There are many historic Victorian buildings, art galleries and tenements.

 

Glasgow is the City of Music and boasts world famous venues including the Barrowlands  King Tuts, Oran Mor, old Fruitmarket. 

 

First there is Glasgow’s Westend. With its university spires atop Kelvingrove park, where there is the dominate Kelvingrove galleries. Close by is the up and coming Finnieston with its unique cafes and shops and close to the new Glasgow Hydro arena and SECC exhibition centre. Up the hill is the lively and picturesque Ashton Lane. Glasgow’s university is one of the UKs oldest and here its worth seeing the cloisters and the Huntarian art gallery. 

 

On the east side there is the Merchant city, with the Old Fruitmarket and City halls venues, and busy night life. There are reminders here of Glasgow’s links to the tobacco and sugar trade. Glasgow was once the engine room of the British empire.  

 

The city’s main street, Buchanan St has the Lighthouse and the concert hall with Donald Dewar’s statue looking on. Just across from this street is the modern art galleries and the cone atop the Duke of Wellington’s statue. Then along Sauchiehall St are Macintosh’s famous tea room. There’s also Glasgow’s cathedral further east and the Acropolis views. 

 

Glasgow is a city of steep hills and long skylines with its many bridges over the river Clyde to Govan, once the world’s ship building centre where the Queen Mary liner was launched in 1934. 

 

Elaine C Smith

Eddi Reader

*There are major artists, writer, scientists, innovators, actors and musicians from Glasgow. 

Most well known Rennie Macintosh, The Glasgow Boys, 

William Macgregor, James Guthrie, Arthur Melville,

Glasgow Girls – Margaret & Francis MacDonald, Bessie Macnicol,

 

Actors - James McAvoy, Robert Carlisle, Kelly Macdonald, Peter Mullan, Elaine C smith, Gary Lewis, Janey Godley, Billy Connolly, 

 

Lord Kelvin, professor or maths & Physics, kelvin temperature scale, important for thermo dynamics.

 

Writers – Alasdair Gray, James Kelman, Jackie Kay, peter may, Debi Gliori, Edwin Morgan, 

 

Musicians -  Simple Minds, Del Amitri, Texas, Deacon Blue, Blue Nile, Wet Wet Wet, 

Franz Ferdinand, Lulu, Mogwai, Mark Knopler, Dick Gaughan, Eddi Reader, Donovan, Emma Pollock,

 

(Gerry Rafferty - Paisley, John Martyn, grew up in Glasgow)

Dick Gaughan

Mogwai

 

Union with David Olusoga BBC Review

 

While Olisoga is an informed historian, and consulted many experts and this is a highly watchable  if it times biased program.

However he at times skims over relevant sections of the 320 years of the union between Scotland and England 1707 and later of the four nations to form the United Kingdom is 1801.

For instance he focuses on the hardships in Ireland and of their being bribed to join the United kingdom union in 1801 – but does mot mention the mass murders and of the obliteration of the highland way of life in Scotland after the Jacobite 45, when the clans were disarmed. There is no mention of the Scottish Parcel of Rogues who sold Scotland for bribes.

The only way to be able to wear the kilt was to join the British highland regiments. 

Union flags designs of James VI

After the JACOBITE 45 rebellion Olusoga states “ the British state, with the help of some clan chiefs, launched a campaign to repress the Scots” –what they really did was mass murder of women and children and the destruction of the highland way of life. the huge contribution Scotland, as the workers of the empire made to the empire is ignored, while England were the rulesr is ignored. 

By the 18^th century – one in 10 lived in London – which became the centre of Printing, key port, trade artery, parliament, monarchy, finance, banking, theatre, arts and culture. Why is it good that so many had to travel to London to make their fortune?

Then there’s the episode Four on Union and Disunion – which focuses on Wales and Ireland, with only a mention of the closing of Ravenscraig steel work at Motherwell – but no mention of Scotland’s oil which was used by Westminster to increase spending on London. 

Olusoga had a chat with A professor from Oxford who stated, ‘There isn’t a long history of power being spread outside the capitol…the starting dates of universities in the north, many are just over a 100 years old. Civic buildings are not that old.” This by implication gives the strong impression that the rest of Britain, outside of London, is backward and uncultured. This is basically untrue. 

Scotland boasts 4 of the UKs oldest universities – Oxford and Cambridge were initially centres of clerical teachings late 1090s: in the 1400s it was Scottish universities which were the four leading centres of learning – St Andrews 1410, Glasgow 1451, Aberdeen 1495, Edinburgh 1583. And it wasn’t until the 1800s that England set up its universities - Manchester 1824, London 1826, Durham 1832.

Olusoga also misses the crucial point that Scotland’s self-determination is about democracy and democratic rights and NOT identity at all.