Kirjahaku

This book treats Burns’ work from the first publication of his poetry in 178 to his song writing and collecting which predominated in the 1790s. It encompasses discussion of Burns’ social and religious satires, his political comment and his utterances on love and gender. In line with modern Burns scholarship, this study reads Burns’ against both his Scottish and British literary backgrounds and emphasises, particularly, Burns’ construction of his poetic persona. As a key element of this latter aspect, the treatment considers Burns against his poetic space for himself as a Scot makes him a crucial Enlightenment and proto-Romantic figure. The book debunks the myth of Burns as ‘this heaven-taught ploughman’, emphasising his very contemporary understanding of the power of literature, and of the emotions as a vital part of human intellect.

This guide combines detailed literary history with discussion of contemporary debates about Scottishness. The book considers the rise of Scottish Studies, the development of a national literature, and issues of cultural nationalism. Beginning in the medieval period during a time of nation building, the book goes on to focus on the 'Scots revival' of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries before moving on to discuss the literary renaissance of the twentieth century. Debates concerning Celticism and Gaelic take place alongside discussion of key Scottish writers such as William Dunbar, Robert Burns, Walter Scott, Thomas Carlyle, Margaret Oliphant, Hugh MacDiarmid, Alasdair Gray, Janice Galloway and Liz Lochhead. The book also considers emigre writers to Scotland; Scottish literature in relation to England, the United States and Ireland; and postcolonialism and other theories that shed fresh light on the current status and future of Scottish literature. Key Features *Identifies the main trends in the emergence and development of Scottish literature, situating them in historical and cultural context *Discusses long-running debates about Scottish language and national identity through detailed readings of authors and texts *Introduces students to a variety of comparative and theoretical approaches which further develop an understanding of Scottish literature *Encourages reflection on questions of Scottish nationalism, cultural politics, canonicity and the rise of Scottish Studies

This guide combines detailed literary history with discussion of contemporary debates about Scottishness. The book considers the rise of Scottish Studies, the development of a national literature, and issues of cultural nationalism. Beginning in the medieval period during a time of nation building, the book goes on to focus on the 'Scots revival' of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries before moving on to discuss the literary renaissance of the twentieth century. Debates concerning Celticism and Gaelic take place alongside discussion of key Scottish writers such as William Dunbar, Robert Burns, Walter Scott, Thomas Carlyle, Margaret Oliphant, Hugh MacDiarmid, Alasdair Gray, Janice Galloway and Liz Lochhead. The book also considers emigre writers to Scotland; Scottish literature in relation to England, the United States and Ireland; and postcolonialism and other theories that shed fresh light on the current status and future of Scottish literature. Key Features *Identifies the main trends in the emergence and development of Scottish literature, situating them in historical and cultural context *Discusses long-running debates about Scottish language and national identity through detailed readings of authors and texts *Introduces students to a variety of comparative and theoretical approaches which further develop an understanding of Scottish literature *Encourages reflection on questions of Scottish nationalism, cultural politics, canonicity and the rise of Scottish Studies

Robert Louis Stevenson is one of the most important and influential writers of the modern era, admired and emulated by authors across the world from the 19th century to the present day. He also wrote some of the most original stories, creating iconic characters who have moved beyond the page to become parts of the language itself. Gerard Carruthers' SCOTNOTE study guide provides an overview of Stevenson's life and work, and focuses on three novels in particular: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Master of Ballantrae, and The Ebb-Tide, each in it own way a story of good and evil, and the conflicting impulses felt by the human spirit. Suitable for senior school pupils and students at all levels.