Product Description

This authoritative edition was originally published in the acclaimed Oxford Authors series under the general editorship of Frank Kermode. It brings together a unique combination of Byron's poetry and prose - all the major poems, complemented by important letters, journals, and conversations - to give the essence of his work and thinking. Byron is regarded today as the ultimate Romantic, whose name has entered the language to describe a man of brooding passion. Although his private life shocked his contemporaries his poetry was immensely popular and influential, especially in Europe. This comprehensive edition includes the complete texts of his two poetic masterpieces Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan, as well as the dramatic poems Manfred and Cain. There are many other shorter poems and part of the satire English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. In addition there is a selection from Byron's inimitable letters, extracts from his journals and conversations, as well as more formal writings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11456 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1120 pages

Customer Reviews

Byron's Major Works, ed. McGann
A selected edition of Byron's works is useful for the modern reader, who is unlikely to be as excited about Byron's early, heroic poems as were readers of the time. Nevertheless there are a few early lyrics ("She walks in beauty ..." for instance) which any reader will want: and they are of course here.

The most exciting Byron for today's reader is likely to be the writer of 'Don Juan', Byron's last epic poem (actually unfinished) -- "meant," as he wrote, "to be a little facetious on everything." Don Juan, as well as inspiring imitations (such as Pushkin's 'Eugene Onegin', one of the great works of Russian literature), must be the greatest piece of comic poetry in English. Following Juan in his adventures from Spain to shipwreck, to life with a noble savage, to glorious battle, the poem pokes fun at Byron's own society (favourite hate-figures are government ministers), rival poets (especially Wordsworth: "Explaining metaphysics to the nation: / I wish he would explain his explanation"), and humanity in general. The description of Juan's first bashful and confusing experience of love must one of the most accurate ever written. ("There were sighs the sweeter for suppression ...") Byron's voice adds a layer of irony, keeping up a pretence of disapproval at Juan's antics.

There are other engaging works here, including 'Cain', disagreement with which provoked Blake's last poem; and a selection from Byron's witty letters and somewhat melancholy private journals. As well as being a good selection of Byron's works, the text of this edition is taken from McGann's recent scholarly edition of Byron's poems. As if that wasn't enough reason for buying it, it's a few quid cheaper than when I bought it!

Don Juan Fan Club
A very nice selection of Byron's work that, while I initially bought it only for Don Juan, will furnish me with many more happy hours of reading than I had anticipated. The short introduction is really quite useful and well written; revealing more in a couple of paragraphs than many of the longer essays in the Cambridge Companion to Byron do in their entirety. Don Juan is still, at its best, a real delight to read. Recommended.

The Haunting Melody of Romanticism
A Poet, le Penseur, a Revolutionary Figure, who once like Goethe and Beethoven saw in Napoleon Bonaparte the personification of the Ideal Europe, and who challenged the social and traditional as well as the political structure of his own era whilst capturing the mind of the world of his time and beyond; influencing even those great artists of Europe like Eugène Delacroix, Lord Byron more than a Poet, was a Freedom Defender who established this proof in Missolonghi, Greece.