with apologies to dame history for having taken liberties with some of her famous characters, i would ask the reader to remember that this story is fiction and not history.

i have made use of some of the most romantic episodes in the life of robert burns, such as his courtship of mary campbell and his love affair with jean armour, “the belle of mauchline,” and many of the historical references and details are authentic.

but my chief purpose in using these incidents was to make “highland mary” as picturesque, lovable and interesting a character in fiction as she has always been in the history of scotland.

clayton mackenzie legge.