Written in 1832 but published only in 1836, after Hogg's death, this was the culmination of Hogg's lifelong interest in Burns' poetry and life. Among the most neglected of his writings, this volume has never before been republished separately from the multi-volume edition of Burns for which it was written, Volumes 1-4 of the Hogg-Motherwell Works of Robert Burns. This is the first modern editorial treatment of the work.