riley's poetry had become popular in britain, in large part due to his book "old-fashioned roses". in may 1891 he traveled to england to tour and made what he considered a literary pilgrimage. he landed in liverpool and traveled first to dumfries, scotland, the home and burial place of robert burns. riley had long been compared to burns by critics because they both used dialect in their poetry and drew inspiration from their rural homes. he then traveled to edinburgh, york, and london, reciting poetry for gatherings at each stop. augustin daly arranged for him to give a poetry reading to prominent british actors in london. riley was warmly welcomed by its literary and theatrical community, and he toured places that shakespeare had frequented.