James BarkeThe son of Galloway parents, James Barke moved to Glasgow in his teens, where he worked in the shipyards and actively participated in the local political and cultural life. He had numerous novels published between 1933 and 1939 before he took on the ambitious task of re-creating the life of Robert Burns in a series of five novels. A lifetime of arduous research, combined with a novelist's rich talent, ensured that the five volumes have deservedly been best-sellers and attained worldwide success. James Barke died in 1958. Read More Read Less