This collection of poems and songs by Robert Burns was selected and introduced by Scottish novelist Ian Rankin. The collection showcases Burns’ versatility, with poems written in different styles, with themes ranging from trivial to international importance, and with moods ranging from joy to lament. Prospective readers shouldn’t let themselves be put off by the Scots dialect used in most of the poems. The glossary at the end of the book will help readers understand the unfamiliar words, but I discovered that listening to the words in my head (or reading aloud) helped me make sense of the dialect without needing to consult the glossary. ( )