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Robert Burns

1 series 2 books in order 1 standalone book

Robert Burns (1759–1796), also known as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland. He wrote mainly in Scots, also in English and a light Scots dialect, and in standard English for blunt political or civil commentary. Considered a pioneer of Romanticism, he inspired founders of liberalism and socialism, and in 2009 was voted the Greatest Scot by the Scottish public via STV.

Born
1759
Known for
Harvard Classics

Where to start with Robert Burns

Begin with Tam o' Shanter, a well-known standalone poem first published in 1791. It exemplifies Burns’s mastery of the Scots language and his narrative flair, offering a vivid and enduring glimpse into his poetic voice. After reading Tam o' Shanter, proceed to other standalone poems and lyrics in the order they were published, focusing on works such as Auld Lang Syne and A Red, Red Rose. These selections reflect Burns’s range in tone and subject, from romantic sentiment to folk-inspired storytelling. No series in the catalog requires sequential reading; the standalone poems are best approached in publication order to trace the evolution of his style and themes.

Series by Robert Burns

Harvard Classics

26 books in order · 1882–1909

  1. Cover of On the origin of species by means of natural selection

    On the origin of species by means of natural selection

    1882 · Charles Darwin

    This 1909 volume presents Charles Darwin's seminal work laying the foundations for the principles of evolutionary biology via natural selection,…

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  2. Virgil's Æneid

    1909 · Publius Vergilius Maro

    Virgil's Æneid is a 1909 book by Publius Vergilius Maro. It is part of the series Harvard Classics.

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  3. Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero, with his Treatises on Friendship and Old Age

    1909 · Cicero and Pliny the Younger

    Letters of Marcus Tullius Cicero, with his Treatises on Friendship and Old Age is a 1909 book by Cicero, Pliny the Younger. It is part of the series…

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  4. Nine Greek Dramas

    1909 · Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes

    Nine Greek Dramas is a 1909 book by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes. It is part of the series Harvard Classics.

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  5. Cover of Plutarch's lives of Themistocles, Pericles, Aristides, Alcibiades, and Coriolanus, Demosthenes, and Cicero, Cæsar and Antony

    Plutarch's lives of Themistocles, Pericles, Aristides, Alcibiades, and Coriolanus, Demosthenes, and Cicero, Cæsar and Antony

    1909 · Plutarch

    Plutarch's lives of Themistocles, Pericles, Aristides, Alcibiades, and Coriolanus, Demosthenes, and Cicero, Cæsar and Antony is a 1909 book by…

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  7. The Apology, Phædo, and Crito of Plato

    1909 · Plato, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius

    The Apology, Phædo, and Crito of Plato is a 1909 book by Πλάτων, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius. It is part of the series Harvard Classics.

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  8. The Confessions of St. Augustine

    1909 · Augustine of Hippo and Thomas à Kempis

    The Confessions of St. Augustine is a 1909 book by Augustine of Hippo, Thomas à Kempis. It is part of the series Harvard Classics.

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  9. Cover of The Odyssey

    The Odyssey

    1909 · Όμηρος

    The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer, and in part a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to him. It…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of Tam o' Shanter
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Robert Burns written?

We list 2 books by Robert Burns across 1 series, published between 1791–1909 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Robert Burns's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Virgil's Æneid.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Robert Burns's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.