Byron letters and prose
Lord Byron — Selected Letters and Journals. Edited with notes by Peter Gunn (1972). Penguin, 1984. 432 pp. $16.95 (paperback). To understand a great deal about Byron, or for that matter about his poetry, it is necessary to read a fair selection of his prose and in particular, his letters. This selection of his prose writing, reprinted after 12 years, opens with a letter written when he was nearly 11 years old, and closes with a letter to his banker written 10 days before his death at Missolonghi. It gives a lively appreciation of his life and work. The book is well organised, beginning with a general biographical introduction. It is then divided into six parts chronologically, each part being prefaced with more detailed biographical information so that what follows can be more easily understood and placed in context.
Perhaps what marks the letters in particular, is Byron’s descriptive facility which brings to them a remarkable realism and immediacy. They are also emotionally very frank — his bitterness over his estrangement from his wife is quite visible as is his pleasure on hearing of.Romilly’s suicide. Apart from the letters (which occupy most of the book) there are passages from his journal and other prose writing including his maiden speech in the House of Lords — a plea for moderation and compassion for those convicted of frame breaking, the penalties for which were most severe. There is literary criticism demonstrating Byron’s early appreciation of Wordsworth, and lack of appreciation of Keats whose poetry he described as a “Bedlam vision” and “a sort of mental masturbation.” — S. Erber.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19841103.2.133.6
Bibliographic details
Press, 3 November 1984, Page 22
Word Count
267Byron letters and prose Press, 3 November 1984, Page 22
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.