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Byron and Greek Love
Addresses the role and significance of homosexuality in Byron's life and work and examines the prevalent anti-homosexualism in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century England as revealed in period sources
432 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 15, 2014
A present from my beloved sister... She has been kindly prompting me to write a novel about Byron! How can I resist at this point? :-)
♦
I have now happily devoured this book. It is fascinating! Very focussed in terms of biography (e.g. Byron's mother gets about three brief sentences), but all the more interesting for that.
While researching a history of attitudes to homosexuality in Western civilisation, Crompton was intrigued to find that an unprecedented number of executions for the crime of sodomy took place in England during the early 1800s. These executions were in addition to the punishments for a lesser charge, which involved being pilloried - and therefore subject to the abuse of the crowd, which could also result in serious injury or death. This awful virulence in England was in direct contrast to the attitudes in other countries, where capital punishment was being used less and less, and homosexuality was being accepted more and more.
Crompton looked for contemporary people through whom he could explore this situation. He found Byron, of course - and all his poems, journals, letters and friends. Crompton also found Jeremy Bentham, who turns out to be rather a dude. (Did I know that already? I hope I knew that already.)
Bentham was a social philosopher and law reformer, who made notes and wrote essays throughout his life on the subject of homosexuality and its treatment in law and in society generally. These notes were never published, however, as even Bentham felt he couldn't stand against England's overwhelming tide of public abhorrence for homosexuality.
Crompton's book, then, is not only biography but also social history - and it is fascinating. Recommended for anyone interested in queer history, in the Regency or Enlightenment/Romantic era, or in Byron himself.
♦
I have now happily devoured this book. It is fascinating! Very focussed in terms of biography (e.g. Byron's mother gets about three brief sentences), but all the more interesting for that.
While researching a history of attitudes to homosexuality in Western civilisation, Crompton was intrigued to find that an unprecedented number of executions for the crime of sodomy took place in England during the early 1800s. These executions were in addition to the punishments for a lesser charge, which involved being pilloried - and therefore subject to the abuse of the crowd, which could also result in serious injury or death. This awful virulence in England was in direct contrast to the attitudes in other countries, where capital punishment was being used less and less, and homosexuality was being accepted more and more.
Crompton looked for contemporary people through whom he could explore this situation. He found Byron, of course - and all his poems, journals, letters and friends. Crompton also found Jeremy Bentham, who turns out to be rather a dude. (Did I know that already? I hope I knew that already.)
Bentham was a social philosopher and law reformer, who made notes and wrote essays throughout his life on the subject of homosexuality and its treatment in law and in society generally. These notes were never published, however, as even Bentham felt he couldn't stand against England's overwhelming tide of public abhorrence for homosexuality.
Crompton's book, then, is not only biography but also social history - and it is fascinating. Recommended for anyone interested in queer history, in the Regency or Enlightenment/Romantic era, or in Byron himself.
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March 27, 2021Content warning: This review mentions sexual abuse of children.
This is a well-researched, stylistically pleasing book about Byron and his romantic and sexual attachments to members of his own gender. Rather than turning Byron into either a hero or a villain, as so many others tend to do, Crompton opts for a sympathetic but impartial stance. He is clearly more interested in Byron’s life as an example of the life of a bisexual man in Regency England than in Byron himself.
Using various sources such as Byron’s letters, poems and diaries, Crompton defies all those who, 200 years after the poet’s death, still deny his homosexual experiences or claim that they were ‘phases’ or only occurred in environments where contact with women was impossible. Crompton distinguishes between the platonic ‘romantic friendships’ that were common between men at the time and actual homosexual relationships, while making a good case for the fact that several of Byron’s attachments belong to the latter category. The author also includes several chapters on contemporary writings on homosexuality, particularly focussing on Jeremy Bentham’s work. These chapters, while interesting as an account of contemporary attitudes towards homosexuality, are a bit too long and not entirely necessary for understanding Byron’s biography.
Crompton published this book in 1985 and I assume that this explains some rather problematic aspects of his account of Byron’s life. He makes very little effort to distinguish between homosexuality between adult men and the kind of pederastic relationships with teenagers that Byron and some of his contemporaries like William Beckford engaged in. Crompton paints these relationships in a sympathetic light and at one point even comments that ‘one wishes’ that fifteen-year-old Lukas Chalandritsanos would have been ‘more sensitive to Byron’s feelings’ (Byron was 36 at the time and Lukas’ employer). In his attempt to counter two millenia of homophobic bias against such a relationship, Crompton fails to realise that this kind of affair would still be considered problematic nowadays, not because of the boy’s gender, but rather because of his age. He also doesn’t seem to have realised that his lack of differentiation is reinforcing the old association of homosexuality with paedophilia which, needless to say, really needs to die.
Considering this, it is not surprising that Crompton adopts a disturbingly nonchalant attitude towards some troubling occurrences in Byron’s own childhood. He casually brushes off the fact that Byron was sexually abused by his nursemaid as a child and refers to this occurrence as a seduction even though Byron was no more than nine years old at the time. Byron himself mentions the emotional damage resulting from this abuse when he names it as one of the possible causes for his lifelong ‘melancholy’, but Crompton deals with this traumatising event in one page and never mentions it again. He gives more space to speculation about a time when Byron was 14 and a similar thing supposedly occurred with a male neighbour, but again doesn’t write about any possible emotional damages resulting from this. In fact, he includes a footnote under the nursemaid-incident saying it was ‘somewhat unusual’ that Byron should have reacted so negatively to it because apparently, a 1979 study showed that only 38% of boys who had sexual relations with adults as children ‘reacted negatively’. I can only say that readers who might find this kind of comment triggering should definitely skip this book.
Although Byron and Greek Love is an otherwise helpful and informative account for anyone studying Byron's works through the lens of Queer Studies, it is this kind of problematic content that makes it impossible for me to recommend the book. Without it, I would have given it a four-star rating, but as things stand, I won’t rate it at all.
This is a well-researched, stylistically pleasing book about Byron and his romantic and sexual attachments to members of his own gender. Rather than turning Byron into either a hero or a villain, as so many others tend to do, Crompton opts for a sympathetic but impartial stance. He is clearly more interested in Byron’s life as an example of the life of a bisexual man in Regency England than in Byron himself.
Using various sources such as Byron’s letters, poems and diaries, Crompton defies all those who, 200 years after the poet’s death, still deny his homosexual experiences or claim that they were ‘phases’ or only occurred in environments where contact with women was impossible. Crompton distinguishes between the platonic ‘romantic friendships’ that were common between men at the time and actual homosexual relationships, while making a good case for the fact that several of Byron’s attachments belong to the latter category. The author also includes several chapters on contemporary writings on homosexuality, particularly focussing on Jeremy Bentham’s work. These chapters, while interesting as an account of contemporary attitudes towards homosexuality, are a bit too long and not entirely necessary for understanding Byron’s biography.
Crompton published this book in 1985 and I assume that this explains some rather problematic aspects of his account of Byron’s life. He makes very little effort to distinguish between homosexuality between adult men and the kind of pederastic relationships with teenagers that Byron and some of his contemporaries like William Beckford engaged in. Crompton paints these relationships in a sympathetic light and at one point even comments that ‘one wishes’ that fifteen-year-old Lukas Chalandritsanos would have been ‘more sensitive to Byron’s feelings’ (Byron was 36 at the time and Lukas’ employer). In his attempt to counter two millenia of homophobic bias against such a relationship, Crompton fails to realise that this kind of affair would still be considered problematic nowadays, not because of the boy’s gender, but rather because of his age. He also doesn’t seem to have realised that his lack of differentiation is reinforcing the old association of homosexuality with paedophilia which, needless to say, really needs to die.
Considering this, it is not surprising that Crompton adopts a disturbingly nonchalant attitude towards some troubling occurrences in Byron’s own childhood. He casually brushes off the fact that Byron was sexually abused by his nursemaid as a child and refers to this occurrence as a seduction even though Byron was no more than nine years old at the time. Byron himself mentions the emotional damage resulting from this abuse when he names it as one of the possible causes for his lifelong ‘melancholy’, but Crompton deals with this traumatising event in one page and never mentions it again. He gives more space to speculation about a time when Byron was 14 and a similar thing supposedly occurred with a male neighbour, but again doesn’t write about any possible emotional damages resulting from this. In fact, he includes a footnote under the nursemaid-incident saying it was ‘somewhat unusual’ that Byron should have reacted so negatively to it because apparently, a 1979 study showed that only 38% of boys who had sexual relations with adults as children ‘reacted negatively’. I can only say that readers who might find this kind of comment triggering should definitely skip this book.
Although Byron and Greek Love is an otherwise helpful and informative account for anyone studying Byron's works through the lens of Queer Studies, it is this kind of problematic content that makes it impossible for me to recommend the book. Without it, I would have given it a four-star rating, but as things stand, I won’t rate it at all.
December 8, 2025
Crompton delves deep into the intricacies of early 19th-century attitudes toward same-sex desire, showcasing how these cultural norms shaped the poet’s experiences. Through a meticulous examination of previously unpublished letters and personal correspondence, alongside a wealth of contemporary sources, Crompton skillfully reconstructs Lord Byron’s homoerotic relationships. He traces these connections from the innocent camaraderie of schoolboy friendships to the more tumultuous encounters of his adult life, earning him Lady Caroline Lamb’s famous description: “mad, bad, and dangerous to know!” (And she would know!)
Ultimately, Byron and Greek Love stands as a seminal text in queer literary biography. It illuminates not only Byron’s personal experiences but also the complex ways in which classical ideals of same-sex love shaped self-understanding and social discourse in the early 19th century. By situating Byron within his own historical and cultural context, Crompton provides readers with a nuanced portrait of the poet’s sexuality, demonstrating how personal desire and societal constraints intertwined to shape both his life and his enduring literary legacy.
Read my full review on my BLOG at www.ryanlawrenceauthor.ca
Ultimately, Byron and Greek Love stands as a seminal text in queer literary biography. It illuminates not only Byron’s personal experiences but also the complex ways in which classical ideals of same-sex love shaped self-understanding and social discourse in the early 19th century. By situating Byron within his own historical and cultural context, Crompton provides readers with a nuanced portrait of the poet’s sexuality, demonstrating how personal desire and societal constraints intertwined to shape both his life and his enduring literary legacy.
Read my full review on my BLOG at www.ryanlawrenceauthor.ca
March 4, 2022
First rate research, wonderful quotes, a whole new insight onto Byron - at least for all those of us who were given a strictly heterosexual portrait of the great poet. It is also fascinating on what it tells of about gay/queer/homosexual men in the 18th/early 19th century - what ever else their views were they were different from Victorians and even pre-Wolfenden 1950s Britain. Of course we are dealing with members of the elite but, still why that won't tell you everything it will tell you very surprising and interesting things. It is a wonderful book, and extremely well written, and this edition is a wonderful example of what Gay Men's Press did so well in bringing a wide variety of relevant publications to an audience who either might have missed them or couldn't afford the hardback editions. If you are interested in gay history I recommend this book - if you are interested in Byron then this is a must read.
October 15, 2021
(Notes made in 2021). Read this ca. 1987; it was published in 1985. I remember finding it illuminating and well-researched, and of course the legal/social history of the treatment of homosexuals in 19th-century England is horrifying.
January 27, 2024
When Crompton wrote this book about homosexuality in Byron's world, it was not okay. He was unusually brave--as was Byron--about describing male-male sexuality in a historical setting. This is an important work in Byron studies, and in the study of historical sexuality generally.
December 17, 2021
it's???? so good??????????????? and sad??? as everything i read is....... BUT used it for my Frankenstein homoeroticism research paper and it is amazing!!
March 18, 2024
This was excellent! Interesting and informative but also well written and well-structured. I did notice that the amount of information dwelling on "homophobia in 19th-century England" sometimes outweighed information on Byron, but that makes sense, considering the text wasn't originally meant to focus on Byron.
I also learned a lot of new information, not just about Byron (who I was almost completely ignorant about before, besides the fact that he was a poet renowned for his debonair, scandalous reputation - a heterosexual one, as far as I knew), but also about how England treated homosexuality in the 19th century. I can hardly believe there were still executions for so long, and pillories just sound barbaric! The death penalty was only removed from the law in England in, oh, I think the book said 1861? Though it was replaced with life imprisonment.
Anyway, just lots of very valuable information about homosexuality and history in here.
I also found a couple of books I'd like to read through while reading this - such as the memoirs of Symonds, which I found a very cheap copy of on a used book seller online...Here I come, Symonds.
One thing that did make me slightly uncomforatble about this book was the very casual way the author spoke about relationships between much older men and very young boys. (Such as 30-something Byron and 15-year olds.) I understand that, obviously, there is the historical tradition (Greeks, etc etc etc), and it's not as if, in the 19th century, heterosexual relationships with such age gaps weren't treated as pretty standard (I think? At the least, the viewpoint was certainly not as it is today), either, but, with my own very modern viewpoint, and with my horror of pedophilia, I'm not sure how to feel about the way the lines are blurred in this book between homosexuality and "pederasty". The author still handled it well - he couldn't not speak of it, considering these are facts about Byron's life - but some more insight and explanation onto those dynamics would have been appreciated.
I also learned a lot of new information, not just about Byron (who I was almost completely ignorant about before, besides the fact that he was a poet renowned for his debonair, scandalous reputation - a heterosexual one, as far as I knew), but also about how England treated homosexuality in the 19th century. I can hardly believe there were still executions for so long, and pillories just sound barbaric! The death penalty was only removed from the law in England in, oh, I think the book said 1861? Though it was replaced with life imprisonment.
Anyway, just lots of very valuable information about homosexuality and history in here.
I also found a couple of books I'd like to read through while reading this - such as the memoirs of Symonds, which I found a very cheap copy of on a used book seller online...Here I come, Symonds.
One thing that did make me slightly uncomforatble about this book was the very casual way the author spoke about relationships between much older men and very young boys. (Such as 30-something Byron and 15-year olds.) I understand that, obviously, there is the historical tradition (Greeks, etc etc etc), and it's not as if, in the 19th century, heterosexual relationships with such age gaps weren't treated as pretty standard (I think? At the least, the viewpoint was certainly not as it is today), either, but, with my own very modern viewpoint, and with my horror of pedophilia, I'm not sure how to feel about the way the lines are blurred in this book between homosexuality and "pederasty". The author still handled it well - he couldn't not speak of it, considering these are facts about Byron's life - but some more insight and explanation onto those dynamics would have been appreciated.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews