Undiscovered Scotland

 

Not so long ago we reviewed "The Jewel" by Catherine Czerkawska, a historical novel about the life of Jean Armour, Robert Burns' wife and an oddly neglected historical figure. We concluded that "The Jewel does much to put right the wrongs of historians, if not perhaps of history itself. The incredible depth of research that underpins the book is obvious, but not intrusive. The reader finds themself deeply immersed in the world of a strong-willed and highly capable young woman who falls in love with a man whose reputation she knows only too well."

"For Jean " selected by Catherine Czerkawska can be thought of as a companion to her earlier book. To an outsider, coming fresh to the story of Jean and Robert, there's an obvious question, just what did she see in someone who worked so hard to deserve his reputation as a ladies' man that he fathered eight illegitimate children by five different women; and why did she stand by him despite his waywardness? It is possible that part of the answer lies between the covers of this lovely little book. Catherine Czerkawska has brought together the first collection of poems and songs written by Robert Burns for Jean Armour, or with her in mind. Each poem or song comes with an explanatory footnote that sets it in context. The book also carries a collection of extracts from letters written by Robert that were either to Jean, or written to friends and talk about her. The book opens with a nice introduction, and there is another at the beginning of the correspondence section.

It seems remarkable that no-one has collected this material together in this form before, and we should be grateful to Catherine Czerkawska for doing so. It gives a purpose and a point of focus to a part of Burns' work that achieves its stated aims very well indeed, while at the same time giving a clear way into the wider works of a great poet who can, to those unfamiliar with Scots, sometimes seem a little unapproachable. And just why did Jean stick with Robert through bad times and, well, more bad times? Part of the reason, on the evidence of this volume, has to be that he had a remarkable way with words...