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It was evident early on just how big of an impact the work of Robert Burns of Ayrshire had on Scotland toward the end of the 18th century and throughout the 19th century. There was an instant connection between Burns and the working class of Scotland, as knowledge of his upbringing, residency and publication in chapbooks all provided him with the image as the 'ploughman poet', the bard of the people. 

 

Burns' influence over the working class inspired a great deal more than the sale of additional chapbooks. Many writers from lesser means were inspired to produce their own material and in many cases tried to emulate their role model in his work. This trend increased after Robert Burns' death in 1796, and by the early 19th century it was said that "every village in Scotland could boast its local imitator". 

 

Publishers of chapbooks were determined to find new material in order to maintain sales, which provided an opportunity for the mimicry of Burns to have some light shone upon it. Chapbook publishers 'Brash and Reid' attempted to capitalize on the success of Robert Burns by publishing the works of Robert Burns of Hamilton. Once Hamilton Burns was a part of Brash and Reid, they stopped referring to the previous Robert Burns by name; instead, they simply addressed him as the "Ayrshire Poet". 

Several chapbooks were produced containing the material of Robert Burns of Hamilton. There was no hesitation to acknowledge his affinity for the Bard, and stated that he hoped the "public would 'assign to him a small portion of that merit which distinguished his illustreous predecessor of the same name' in which case 'his highest ambition will be granted" (from G. Ross Roy). Very little information is available on Burns of Hamilton, or any of the working class writers who were inspired in the aftermath of the Bard's death. 

 

Sources: 

 

Roy, G.Ross. “Robert Burns and the Brash and Reid Chapbooks of Glasgow”. In Scottish Studies 14 (1992): 53-69.

 

Whatley, Christopher A. “It Is Said That Burns Was a Radical’: Contest, Concession, and the Political Legacy of Robert Burns, ca. 1796-1859”. In The Journal of British Studies 50, no.3 (2012): 639-666.

 

 

  

The Legacy of the Ayrshire Poet and the Emergence of the Other Robert Burns

'Portrait of Burns' provided by Dumfries & Galloway Museums. Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

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