Byron's Poetry and Prose

by Lord Byron, Alice Levine (Editor)

Byron's Poetry and Prose presents an extensive selection of Byron's poetry, letters, and journal entries in chronological clusters, allowing readers to see the changes that took place in his writing in the context of the places he lived and his fame, exile, and travels. "Criticism" is chronologically keyed to Byron's poetry and reprints both classic and recent examinations of Byron's writing and life, including assessments by Anne Barton, Donald H. Reiman, Jane Stabler, Jerome J. McGann, Susan J. Wolfson, and James Chandler.

A Biographical Register, Chronology, Selected Bibliography, and Index of Poem Titles and First Lines are also included.

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Genres: Poetry, Classics

1058 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2009

About the author

George Gordon Byron (invariably known as Lord Byron), later Noel, 6th Baron Byron of Rochdale FRS was a British poet and a leading figure in Romanticism. Amongst Byron's best-known works are the brief poems She Walks in Beauty, When We Two Parted, and So, we'll go no more a roving, in addition to the narrative poems Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan. He is regarded as one of the greatest British poets and remains widely read and influential, both in the English-speaking world and beyond.

Byron's notabilty rests not only on his writings but also on his life, which featured upper-class living, numerous love affairs, debts, and separation. He was notably described by Lady Caroline Lamb as "mad, bad, and dangerous to know". Byron served as a regional leader of Italy's revolutionary organization, the Carbonari, in its struggle against Austria. He later travelled to fight against the Ottoman Empire in the Greek War of Independence, for which Greeks revere him as a national hero. He died from a fever contracted while in Messolonghi in Greece.

Reviews

[Andrew Pitkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Byron was a great figure in Romantic Poetry. But I find him far less compelling than Keats, Shelley, Coleridge, Blake. He takes a lot of time to delve through, but I found his work fascinating, albeit sometimes belaboured and self-indulgent (narcissism is a prerequisite to enjoying Byron, I suppose).

The Romantics are old enemies of mine - I much prefer the company of Modernists!

[Qasim Zafar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking love Byron's poetry. It was this that I spent most of the time reading, and skimmed over most of his letters. and really skimmed through the critiques at the end. The reason that I didn't really pay attention to the critiques is that it enables me to formulate my own opinions about what I have read in a manner that is untainted by the prejudices of others. This way even if I do decide to read them later - it would actually serve an end and mean something.

Overall this was the best collection on the shelves when I decided to buy it, and I haven't regretted buying it. This edition is very well organized... in a manner that allows the reader to follow the chronology of not only the works, but the evolution of Byron's thoughts and relations with family, friends, lovers, etc.

[TapMyShoulder · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Which piece does he mean? Since last year I have run the Gauntlet; is it the Tarruscelli, the Da Mosti, the Spineda, the Lotti, the Rizzatto, the Eleanora, the Carlotta, the Giulietta, the Alvisi, the Zambieri, the Eleanora de Bezzi (who was the King of Naples’ Gioaschino’s mistress, at least, one of them), the Theresa of Mazzurati, the Glettenheim and her sister, the Luigia and her mother, the Fornaretta, the Santa, the Caligara, the Portiera Vedova, the Bolognese figurante, the Tentora and her sister, cum multis aliis? Some of them are countesses, and some of them are cobbler’s wives; some noble, some middling, some low, & all whores; which does the damned old ‘Ladro and porco fottuto’ mean? I have had them all and thrice as many to boot since 1817.”

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Byron- you either adore him or dislike him. I am fortunately in the camp of the former. I have owned two copies of this text (one was for graduate school) and used it for several papers I completed on him. It is for me one of the better critical editions of his work in print. You get to see the maturity of his work from schooldays up to his zenith with 'Manfred' and 'Don Juan'. The notes that accompany 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimmage' are more useful as well. Worth having in any poetry/literature/criticism collection.

[Doug Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know who Byron reminds me of? Jonathan Franzen. Because he is a great writer. And he knows he is a great writer. And his writing reeks of that. Of showing off how awesome he is, so when the readers leave, the last thing on your mind isn't how good the pieces were, but how good the writer was. Total showoff.

[Yakub Medici · Rating 1 out of 5]

Contains a bunch of useless essays, but butchers the length of Byron's masterpiece. You might not get to read Don Juan in its entirety but, hey, at least you'll get some insightful 21st century feminist analysis of early nineteenth century poetry. That was sarcasm. This edition is garbage.

[Liberty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent book. Great if you want to study his life, his work, or both. A beautiful Norton Critical Edition. I am never let down with Norton Critical Editions. They are always amazing, helpful, and a joy to read.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

So,poetry is harder for me to work through. I enjoy it in short bursts, though I also know I probably don't get the depth out of it that a person heavily interested and invested in poetry does. Enjoyed this book and info in it.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Juan is the greatest epic poem I've read. Shame on me for not finding this sooner.