The Great Poets: Robert Burns

By: Robert Burns

Narrated by: Forbes Masson

Length: 1 hr and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), one of the most popular of poets, was celebrated in 2009. A pioneer of the Romantic movement, works such as "A Red, Red Rose", "A Man’s a Man for a’ That", and the ubiquitous "Auld Lang Syne", have made him an international figure. Naxos AudioBooks’ popular Great Poets series marked the anniversary with this audio, bringing together all the key works.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2009 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2009 Naxos Audiobooks

The readers accent was great

The readers accent was great. I read the poems from a book I have at home while listening to this audio book.

Amazing reading.

What made the experience of listening to The Great Poets: Robert Burns the most enjoyable?

I only caught every 4th word but it's worth studying so I'll read the poems and listen again. The actor who narrated it had such a good time bringing these works to life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

NA

Which scene was your favorite?

NA

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

NA

Any additional comments?

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A must listen

Robert Burns is the National Bard of Scotland. He wrote Auld Lang Syne. Forbes Masson rolls his RRRRRRRs and gutterally flows through Burns’s poems. It’s so beautiful.

Good performance

A good reading, but perhaps not for me. I like the narrator's voice as he introduces each piece. The poems themselves are given in a more lively performative style, which I had a harder time getting into. And in case people wonder, Auld Lang Syne is read and not sung, so it may not feel festive. I did appreciate the clear reading, though. This is a good production, but I may seek out a different recording. Also, note that the PDF does not have any of the text from the poems, which makes sense since this was made for audio and is not a reading of a published book.

'Bard of passion'

It's a highly enjoyable selection of poems. Forbes Masson gave an impassioned and expressive rendition. I fell in love with his Scottish accent. I could listen to him for hours. Over and over again.

Here's the list of poems on the audio:
1. A Man's a Man for a' That
2. A Red, Red Rose
3. A Winter Night
4. Address to a Haggis
5. Address to the Unco Guid
6. Ae Fond Kiss
7. Apology for Declining an Invitation to Dine
8. Auld Lang Syne
9. Bessy and her Spinnin' Wheel
10. Epistle to a Young Friend
11. Holy Willie's Prayer
12. I'll Meet Thee on the Lea Rig
13. Man Was Made to Mourn
14. My Bonie Mary
15. My Love's She's But a Lassie Yet
16. On a Suicide
17. Robert Bruce's March to Bannockburn
18. Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation
19. Tam O'Shanter
20. The Banks O'Doon
21. The Cotter's Saturday Night
22. From The Jolly Beggars (extract)
23. To a Louse, On Seeing One on a Lady's Bonnet at Church
24. To a Mouse, On Turning Her up in Her Nest with the Plough
25. To Mary in Heaven

Vivid Scottish Life

Forbes Masson is a native Scotsman that I have been priviliged to see on stage for the Royal Shakespeare Company. His expressive natural accent brings Burns to life and his passion in certain key passages opened a new level of Burns to my ears. If you are looking for Burns on audio, this is it. Yes, several words, like Shakespeare, need glossing because Burns injected his poetry with his native Scots dialect. But it's well worth it!