The Story of Wallace.
William Wallace’s ideals and his valiant struggle has inspired many people throughout the centuries, not all of them Scottish. Many writers, artists and poets have wrestled with how to represent what he means to them as individuals. In Robert Burns’ autobiographical letter to Dr Moore, Burns said…
'The two first books I ever read in private, and which gave me more pleasure than any two books I ever read again, were the life of Hannibal and the history of Sir William Wallace... The story of Wallace poured a Scottish prejudice in my veins which will boil along there till the flood-gates of life shut in eternal rest.'
William Wordsworth was also moved to write…
"--How Wallace fought for Scotland, left the name
Of Wallace to be found, like a wild flower,
All over his dear Country; left the deeds
Of Wallace, like a family of ghosts,
To people the steep rocks and river banks,
Her natural sanctuaries, with a local soul
Of independence and stern liberty."