Robert Burns (1759-1796), the great Scottish poet: immensely popular during his lifetime, with an enduring legacy to this day. Popular yet still of high literary quality, he was indeed 'Caledonia's Bard', as his contemporaries called him. A lyricist of immense expressiveness and remarkable thematic range. He wrote tender, yet when necessary, quite frivolous love songs; he satirically mocked the authorities in state and church and sang of political freedom as well as human rights. With gentle irony, yet always warmly, he depicted the customs, traditions, and peculiarities of his fellow countrymen, and with beautiful enthusiasm, the Scottish barley drink - both distilled and brewed. Throughout the book, Heiko Postma paints a portrait of the bard and lifelong heartbreaker, who created his songs and poems.