I caught a bit of a programme on Sunday about Burns in the USA. Our Robert Burns from Ayr was more popular in New York than in Scotland. There are 15 statues of him alone in New York, more than any other famous person. They described him as the Elvis Presley of the 18th century. Abraham Lincoln was a great fan, quoting his phrases regularly, and Bob Dylan uses his verses in some of his songs. Cigars and cigar boxes were called after him, but using the name Bobby Burns which is more common in the USA than Robert.
I missed most of the programme, and hope to see it again in it's entirity but I reached the conclusion that our Robert Burns from Ayr was a worldwide phenomenum.
Pehaps someone else saw it?
Burns in the USA
-
- Mega Heid Poster
- Posts: 19470
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm
Re: Burns in the USA
I didn't see the programme but do remember coming across a fine statue of the Bard in Central Park, New York.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.