I have issues with #BurnsNight cos Rabbie was such a goat w/ the ladies but still there are interesting women round him... so a THREAD Burns 1st poem, O Once I Lov'd A Bonny Lass, was inspired by his passion for 'Handsome Nell' a co-worker on this farm He was 15.  /1

Burns wrote poetry about women his whole life incl some who had writing talent. In 1787 in Edinburgh he met 9 sisters - the Ferriers. Obvs he penned them a poem. The youngest Susan, went on to write one of the most popular novels of the era, highly praised by Walter Scott. /2

Rabbie's most famous paramour was married. He nicknamed Agnes McLehose 'Clarinda' in a series of smoking love letters but she fled to Jamaica to her husband. They didn't reconcile. Rabbie said Agnes' poetry was 'worthy of Sappho'. This memorial to her is in the Canongate. /3

No relation, prostitute Margaret Burns was banned from working in her Rose Street rooms in Edinburgh by the Lord Ordinary. She contested his judgement. After her death (in her 20s - the life of a Georgian prostitute was esp tough on women) Rabbie wrote a poem in her defence. /4

When Jean Adams, a poet from Greenock, wrote 'There's Nae Luck Aboot the Hoose' Burns judged it 'one of the most beautiful songs in Scots or any other language.' For women writers Burns was a good ally like Scott. This meant women wrote poetry about HIM of course. /5

Another woman writer who attracted his praise was Helen Craik. Craik fled her home at Arbigland House when it was rumoured her husband had been killed by her family. She later wrote gothic novels based on this intrigue though never remarried. /6

Burns' era was full of working class female poets too. The Scotch Milkmaid, Janet Little, who ran the dairy at Loudon Castle wrote rustic poetry including one about Burns himself. Isabel Pagan ran a howf where she performed her poetry and sang. Burns adapted and used her work. /7

Burns' mother became famous by association as did Jean Armour, his wife, who bore him 9 children after a false start when her father 'removed' her from her betrothal to Burns as Rabbie got a barmaid pregnant. What was he like? He also had at least 4 other illegitimate kids./8

Catherine Carswell received death threats for writing the 1st warts & all biography of Burns in 1930. She received a bullet in the post for challenging Burns' not-to-be-questioned reputation.Traditionally the bard's sexual misdemeanours & heavy drinking had been glossed over. /9

Please feel free to add more women to this thread (there are a-plenty) but 10 tweets is enough from me. I hope you all have a fabliss Burns Night & get your best Rabbie on. Oh & quick bonus, Burns here on the left and on the right two of his sons, William and James. How amazing