The Brus: “The Canterbury Tales” of Scotland
by “The Brus” was Scotland’s greatest long poem in the 1300s and 1400s during the Middle Ages in Europe.
History books you have read in high school and college in the United States emphazised England as one of the major European countries that contributed to the masterpiece long poems of the Middle Ages. What a pity! I have no idea why Scotland was neglected? The Scots back in the mid to late 1300s had a Scottish poet who was as famous in their country as Geoffrey Chaucer was in England during the same time period! Both John Barbour and Geoffrey Chaucer were alive in the same time period! Hmmm? I wonder if Chaucer ever met this Scottish man? What was his name? John Barbour. What was his most famous long Scottish poem that is considered the ‘Canterbury Tales’ of Scotland and the Scottish people worldwide? That long poem is called The Brus.
This long poem is a true masterpiece! Even Geoffrey Chaucer would have been impressed! Written in Gaelic, the native language of Scotland, in Edinburgh, Scotland, is composed of 20 Books with about 10,000 lines. It was published in 1375. The Scottish long poem deals with the Scottish legend hero, Robert The Bruce, and his heroic deeds that inspired and built the nation of Scotland. Robert The Bruce was one of the great Scottish heros next to William Wallace. The long poem mentions the Scottish warriors who fought for freedom from the King of England during the period of 1286 to 1332. Scotland and England were at war intensely during this time period. Too bad! British kings have been prejudiced ignorants anyway. I think that is why Geoffrey Chaucer could not befriend John Barbour, because of such political and cultural biases between Scotland and England.
CONCLUSION
I strongly feel that John Barbour should be mentioned in the ranks of Geoffrey Chaucer! The Brus should be close to the ranks of The Canterbury Tales in terms of being a masterpiece of Middle Ages literature in Europe! This long poem should be one of the top 10 long poems of world literature! Unfortunately, it is not among scholar and critics! Too bad! Just as Mel Gibson made the film Braveheart to commemorate Willim Wallace, there should be a movie film to commemorate Robert The Bruce!
Praise for The Brus!
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