The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals. Vol. 2

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

9921

Title

The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals. Vol. 2

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume captures the dramatic arc of Lord Byron's life from August 1811 to April 1814, chronicling his rise as society's idol and subsequent fall amidst political vituperation. Edited by Rowland E. Prothero, it offers a new, revised edition featuring previously unpublished letters, restored manuscript notes, and critical commentary on works like *Childe Harold* and *The Giaour*. The text provides an intimate glimpse into Byron's correspondence with figures such as Thomas Moore, John Murray, and Lady Caroline Lamb, alongside his...

Summary up to 500 words

Spanning from August 1811 to April 1814, this volume captures the volatile trajectory of Lord Byron's life at its most intense. It begins with Byron as the sudden idol of Regency society, following his publication of *Childe Harold* (Cantos I and II), *The Giaour*, and *The Bride of Abydos*. The narrative meticulously tracks his time in England, marked by intense social engagement, political speeches in Parliament regarding the Frame-Work Bill and Roman Catholic Claims, and a prolific correspondence network. Key relationships are explored through letters to Thomas Moore, Francis Hodgson, John Murray, and Lady Caroline Lamb, revealing the complexities of his personal life and literary ambitions. The text documents his growing isolation as public opinion turned against him, culminating in attacks by the Tory press in early 1814 that nearly forced him to abandon his literary work. The volume includes journal entries from late 1813 through April 1814, offering a day-by-day account of his thoughts and movements. Edited with scholarly rigor, it restores passages omitted by earlier biographers like Thomas Moore and includes appendices featuring parliamentary debates, newspaper attacks, and letters from contemporaries such as Walter Scott and Bernard Barton. This collection serves as both a historical document of Regency-era politics and culture and a poignant exploration of a poet's struggle against the very society he once captivated. The editor notes that while earlier collections by Moore and Halleck contained significant material, this edition adds hundreds of previously unpublished letters, correcting omissions where Moore felt justified in suppressing passages referring to living persons. The text restores Byron's manuscript notes and includes Sir Walter Scott's comments collated with the originals. Appendices provide a comprehensive record of the vitriolic attacks made upon him in newspapers like *The Morning Post* and *The Sun*, which accused him of atheism, plagiarism, and libeling his sovereign. These pressures, combined with personal scandals involving Lady Caroline Lamb and his uncle, the Earl of Carlisle, drove Byron toward a decisive break with English society, setting the stage for his eventual departure.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• Poetry