Inside the Mind of Robert Burns (2020)

Alan Bissett delves into the mind of Robert Burns, seeking the truth behind the legendary poet and exploring the tensions in his life and writing. Burns, a celebrated genius, was a man of contradictions: passionate about women yet also exploitative, a revolutionary idealist who climbed the social ladder as a government official, and a champion of liberty who nearly became involved in slavery. Bissett examines new research suggesting Burns may have suffered from bipolar disorder, a condition that likely caused dramatic shifts in his moods.