Lord George Gordon Byron Andra Prems 11 B

George Gordon Byron • 1788 -1824 • George Gordon Byron simply known as Lord Byron • Born on 22 January 1788 • Revolutionary British poet • Leading figure in Romanticism

Early Life • Son of Captain John Byron and Catherine Gordon • Born with a club-foot which caused him much humiliation • A fragile self-esteem • Inherited his great-uncle’s title at the age of 10 • Spent childhood in Scotland • Attended Harrow Public School and Cambridge University

Lord Byron • Had romances with several women, many of them married • Handsome, attractive to women • Young man tried to imitate him • Annabella Milbanke – Augusta Ada Byron • Claire Clairmont – Clara Allegra Byron • Many bisexual love affaires and debts • Rumors of incest

• Annabella Milbanke • Claire Clairmont

Politics • Took his seat in the House of Lords in 1811 • Made his maiden speech on the 27 th of February 1812 • His liberal politics weren’t welcomed • In his second speech expressed opposition to the established religion • Inspired to write political poems

Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage • • • Byron’s first literary triumph Published 1812 -1818 Dedicated to Charlotte Harley Consists of 4 cantos The travels of a world-weary young man Childe – a young man who was a candidate for knighthood • Colorful descriptions of exotic nature, a lyrical exaltation of freedom, lonely hero

Don Juan • Satiric poem based on the legend of Don Juan • Portraying Juan not as a womanizer but as someone easily seduced by women • Byron’s masterpiece • Social, political, literary, ideological levels • Two first cantos were published anonymously • He completed 16 cantos, leaving the 17 th unfinished

• Died of fever on April 19, 1824 at the age of 36 • St. Paul’s and Westminster Abbey refused him funeral services • He was buried in the family tomb at Hucknall Tockard

“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. ” - Lord Byron

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