George Gordon Byron

The years of study in the aristocratic school for young lord Byron were darkened by the consciousness of their poverty, solitude and by the lameness, aggravated charlatan “treatment”. Subsequently this deficiency did not prevent him from becoming a good boxer, an excellent horseman and swimmer. Suffering from the adversities and the injustices, the boy knew how to develop the increased feeling of responsibility and truth in him. At the same time he was proud of the lord title obtained by the inheritance, sometimes it had more significance for him then his literary glory.

The first collection of poetry “Hours of Idleness” appeared in 1807. Although society did not approve it and even subjected to criticism for the complete title of the author on the cover, for the reference to numerous female names, for presenting himself as philanderer and heartbreaker. Byron said that if the collection had had success he would have left the poetry forever, but now he wanted to prove the whole world that he was a poet indeed.

In the summer of 1809 he left for the prolonged journey on the continent. During two years he visited Spain and Portugal, the islands of the Mediterranean, Albania, Greece and Turkey, the countries of Asia. Upon his return he lost his mother, two friends and a beloved woman. Solitude, grief, consciousness of futile existence - here is the sum of its two-year-old journey. He brought sketches about his journey and those countries from his trip, and following his friends advice he published them. Thus two first songs of poem the Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage appeared.

His success of a poet in the society was also caused by charm of his personality: mysterious wanderer, who spent two years in the exotic countries, the bright lord, a handsome man, he attracted attention both of men and women. Thus Byron enters into the literary circle of that time.

His marriage turned out to be a disaster. His wife did not share the same interests the poet did. Even writing verses and poems herself, she was completely alien to freedom-loving poetry of Byron; his proud, impatient and ardent disposition irritated her. After giving birth to their daughter and leaving to live with her parents, his wife tried to declare Byron mentally unstable patient but after she had no success in her attempt she finally filed for a divorce.

In April of 1816, after saying goodbye to his sister Augusta, the only loyal person remained in his life, lord Byron left England forever. In Italy the poet found something that what missing on the native land. That is an opportunity of active participation in the liberation fight of people. But this, in turn, served as the powerful source of inspiration for his writing. Byron renews the work on the poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Here, in Italy, he writes dramatic poem “Manfred”, works on Lament of Tasso. From exotic singer of the west Byron becomes poet and thinker, a philosopher. From his own experience he learns that all that man strives to is fragile, as well as happiness, glory, and authority.

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