The Absorbing Fire: The Byron Legend

by F.W. Kenyon

The life and loves of Lord Byron.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Frank Wilson Kenyon (July 6, 1912-February 6, 1989) was a New Zealand novelist.
Frank Wilson Kenyon spent his childhood in Lancashire, England, until his family emigrated to New Zealand when he was twelve years old. There, his father ran a grocery shop and Kenyon started to discover some of the writers who would later influence his own work, including Dickens, Maupassant, Somerset Maugham and H.G. Wells. After leaving school, he worked in a department store before moving to London for two years in his early twenties to develop a writing career. He wrote many historical novels, particularly about famous women in history.

Reviews

[Tüles Üresin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book focuses on Lord Byron's social life, particularly his personal life with women. All his known lovers throughout history are covered individually in this book. Very little is said about his poetry. Little space is given to his friendship with Percy Shelley and Mary Shelley; I would have expected more. His complex about his limp is also mentioned in many passages. The book reads more like a soap opera, but it is easy to read and flows quite smoothly after a few pages. Unfortunately, it lacks literary style; just when you think you are about to encounter a truly literary style in the sentences, the author simplifies the language again.

There is a character named Annabella who becomes Lord Byron's wife for a while. In other words, the end of this marriage is clear from the very beginning. The man marries her as if he were going to his death. Despite this, the poor woman marries Lord Byron anyway. It's impossible not to be angry. Although she comes from a wealthy family, she is very naive and thinks she will be very happy. Of course, she isn't.