Words and Phrases.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20310, 21 May 1934, Page 6

Words and Phrases.

6 * a West Coast reader, asks a number of questions which “ Touchstone ” cannot answer and one at least which he cannot print concerning the unexpurgated editions of the works of Robert Burns The correspondent asks what edition (1) contains such poems as “ ” and ~ ”• gives the poet’s public and private life; (3) contains all letters written by the poet; (4) gives the family history; , (5) the approximate price of such an edition, (a) with photographs, (b) without photographs; (6) have a lot of the poet’s coarser poems and letters been banned for publication? (7) Is Lockhart’s biography of Burns considered the best? “Touchstone’s” copy of Burns, which would be quite adequate for anyone not wishing “ to make it warm ” for the Immortal Bard, is a well-illustrated volume, the Poetical Works and Letters of Robert Burns with introduction, notes and glossary by Robert Ford, published by Collins’ Clear-Type Press, London and Glasgow. It would not be passed for adult exhibition, to use a film censor’s phrase. It would cost about 3s 6d. M It; is hard to say whether some of the coarser poems " attributed to Burns were w ritten by him. Biographers like William Scott Douglas and Dr William Wallace have been “at pains to sift the back-door tittle-tattle, and to test no less minutely the irresponsible front-door chatter. TOUCHSTONE.