The Witching Voice A Novel from the Life of Robert Burns

The turbulent artistic and romantic life of Robert Burns, the premier icon of the Romantic movement, is creatively reenacted in this contemporary tribute to the drama and texture of late 18th-century Scotland. Based on extensive research and historical fact, Burns' life at the height of his fame from 1784 to 1788 is portrayed as spontaneous, passionate, and sexual. Told in the present tense through multiple viewpoints, Burns' story is a frank and moving portrait of a man often misguided by the "witching voice" that motivated hima drive composed of the same charms, demons, and shortcomings that nurtured his remarkable gifts.

Arnold Johnston is a creative writing teacher and the former chairman of the English department at Western Michigan University. He is the author of Of Earth and Darkness: The Novels of William Golding and What the Earth Taught Us. He lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan.