Showing results by author "George Gordon Byron" in All Categories

Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Blake, Coleridge, and Byron. The poets of the Romantic Period celebrated with readings by Sir Ralph Richardson, Christopher Hassall, Margaretta Scott, and Tyrone Power.

The epitome of the romantic literary hero, Lord Byron was as well known in his time for the revolutionary panache with which he lived as for his extremely popular verse. “As a myth,” wrote Bertrand Russell, “his importance, especially on the continent, was enormous.” His many tempestuous relationships were the subject of scandal which only added to his celebrity. His name has even entered into our language to describe a man of deep passion and defiance.

Byron's Don Juan is a comic masterpiece written in a satirical, mock heroic style. Based on the legend of Don Juan, (which is here pronounced JOO-AN), Byron completely reverses the portrayal of Juan, instead showing him as someone easily seduced by women instead of seducing them. He called this form of poetry "epic satire". It is generally considered to be Byron's masterpiece.

Today Byron is regarded as the ultimate romantic - a rebel, a Casanova, and a man of intense, brooding passion. He was the most famous literary man of his time, and his poetry, endlessly witty and often insightful, was immensely popular and hugely influential. From the delicate romanticism of "She Walks in Beauty" to the evocative reflections of "So We’ll Go No More a Roving", Byron’s poems were unrivaled in their power and potency.

Explore the depths of human emotion, conflict, and existential inquiry in "Cain: A Mystery," a podcast that delves into themes of defiance and the struggle against fate. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that invites listeners to grapple with the complexities of morality, sibling rivalry, and the quest for understanding in a world shaped by divine punishment. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that challenge conventional narratives, prompting reflection on the nature of good and evil, as well as the consequences of choice. Through the lens of literary ...

Immerse yourself in a captivating exploration of poetic satire and literary critique, inspired by the title "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers." This podcast delves into the rich tapestry of 19th-century literature, where the sharp wit and keen observations of poets and critics collide. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, offering a rotating collection of works that reflect the fierce debates and artistic rivalries of the Romantic era. Listeners are invited to encounter the voices that shaped literary discourse, from the celebrated to the scorned, as they navigate themes of ...

Immerse yourself in the contemplative realm of "Hours of Idleness," where the exploration of leisure, reflection, and the art of poetry takes center stage. This podcast delves into the nuances of creativity that flourish in moments of stillness and introspection, inviting listeners to appreciate the beauty of both the written word and the spaces in between. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, showcasing a diverse array of poetic expressions and themes that resonate with the essence of idleness and inspiration. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that ...

Delve into the intricate dynamics of love, betrayal, and societal expectations as we explore the themes woven into the poignant title. This podcast offers a rotating collection of audiobooks that examine the complexities of relationships marked by power struggles and moral dilemmas, much like the turbulent union of Lady Byron and Lord Byron. Each episode invites listeners to engage with a new complete audiobook that sheds light on the emotional and psychological landscapes of estranged lovers, societal judgment, and the consequences of personal choices. These stories reflect the timeless ...

Embark on a journey through the landscapes of longing, reflection, and the search for meaning, inspired by the evocative title "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage." This podcast delves into the rich tapestry of experiences that explore the complexities of disillusionment and the quest for solace amidst turmoil. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, inviting listeners to traverse foreign lands and delve into the hearts and minds of characters who grapple with their own existential crises. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the universal themes of ...

Immerse yourself in the captivating and audacious world of "Don Juan, Canto 5," a thematic exploration that delves into the complexities of desire, identity, and societal norms. This podcast invites listeners to engage with the intricate dance of seduction and satire that characterizes the literary epic, as it navigates themes of love, power dynamics, and the often absurd nature of human relationships. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that reflects the rich tapestry of these themes, presenting a rotating collection of works that challenge conventions and provoke thought. This is ...

Embark on a journey through the intricate landscapes of the mind and spirit, as suggested by "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage: Canto III." This podcast delves into themes of existential reflection, wanderlust, and the profound sense of disillusionment that often accompanies the search for meaning in a tumultuous world. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that invites listeners to explore the emotional and philosophical depths of characters navigating foreign terrains and their own inner struggles. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that resonate with the ...

Byron wrote this tribute to the great 14th-century Italian poet Dante Alighieri after visiting his tomb in Ravenna in 1819. It envisages Dante prophesying the future of Italy just before his death. The poem is written in Terza Rima, the complex 3-line rhyme scheme used by Dante in his Divina Commedia (Summary by Alan Mapstone)

Childe Harold's Pilgrimage is a narrative poem in four parts written by Lord Byron. It was published between 1812 and 1818. The poem describes the travels and reflections of a world-weary young man who, disillusioned with a life of pleasure and revelry, looks for distraction in foreign lands. In a wider sense, it is an expression of the melancholy and disillusionment felt by a generation weary of the wars of the post-Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. The title comes from the term Childe, a medieval title for a young man who was a candidate for knighthood. Cantos I & ΙΙ describes Harold's ...

Childe Harold's Pilgrimage is a lengthy narrative poem in four parts written by Lord Byron. It was published between 1812 and 1818 and is dedicated to "Ianthe". The poem describes the travels and reflections of a world-weary young man who, disillusioned with a life of pleasure and revelry, looks for distraction in foreign lands. In a wider sense, it is an expression of the melancholy and disillusionment felt by a generation weary of the wars of the post-Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. The title comes from the term childe, a medieval title for a young man who was a candidate for knighthood. ...

LibriVox volunteers bring you 12 recordings of The Castled Crag of Drachenfels, by George Gordon, Lord Byron. This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for September 5, 2021. ------ The Castled Crag at Drachenfels is a 4-verse poem embedded in Canto 3 of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage by Lord Byron. It is thought to be addressed to his half-sister Augusta Leigh, by whom he was believed to have fathered a child. The Drachenfels crag overlooks the town of Kornigswinter on the river Rhine in Germany, just south of Bonn. - Summary by Alan Mapstone

Lord Byron visited the Castle of Chillon on Lake Geneva in Switzerland in 1816 and was intrigued by the legend of Francis Bonnivard who was said to have been imprisoned there in medieval times. The title poem of this collection was written in response to that visit. Originally published in 1816 this collection was extended after Byron's death. The final poem was written on his 36th birthday, just 3 months before he died. - Summary by Alan Mapstone

Byron wrote the Hebrew Melodies to accompany music by the composer Isaac Nathan which he claimed derived from Synagogue tunes used at the time of the Temple in Jerusalem, although it is likely that most of the music was from more recent European sources. While some of the poems are based on stories from the Book of Job most have no specific religious or Hebrew connotations. The poems were widely admired, influencing works by Heine and Lermontov and being set to music by composers including Mendelssohn, Schumann and Mussorgsky. (Summary by Alan Mapstone)

This powerful poem narrates the fateful return of Count Lara to the British Isles after spending years abroad traveling the orient. Returning to his patrimony with a retinue consisting of one foreign-born page, Count Lara resumes the management of his landed estates. Lara's first efforts are crowned with success: only to be undermined by the jealousy and envy of his his peers. After a successful duel to defend his honour, the count becomes inexorably caught up in local blood-feuds; which quickly escalate to open warfare between his own followers and the private armies of his enemies. - Count ...

In his later years, Byron masterfully weaves the tale of the infamous mutiny aboard the Bounty in his narrative poem, The Island. This gripping story follows the rebellious crew as they escape to a remote South Sea island, which they come to see as their guilt-won Paradise. Join us as we delve into themes of freedom, guilt, and the search for redemption. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)

Childe Harolds Pilgrimage is a captivating narrative poem composed in four parts by the renowned Lord Byron, published between 1812 and 1818 and dedicated to the enigmatic Ianthe. This poem captures the journey and introspections of a young man, world-weary and disenchanted with a life filled with fleeting pleasures, as he seeks solace and distraction in distant lands. Through its verses, the poem poignantly reflects the melancholy and disillusionment experienced by a generation scarred by the turmoil of the post-Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. The title Childe refers to a medieval ...