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.
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The Great Poets: Lord Byron
- Narrated by: Simon Russell Beale
Today, Byron is considered the ultimate romantic – a rebel, a Casanova, and a man of intense, cherished passion. He was the most famous writer of his time, and his poetry, immensely witty and often poignant, was immensely popular and influential. From the subtle romanticism of “She Walks in Beauty” to the evocative reflections of “So We’ll Go No More a Roving,” Byron’s poems are unparalleled in their power and potential. . Lesser-known poems such as “The Destruction of Sennacherib”, a reinterpretation of the biblical story of Sennacherib; “Prometheus”, an ironic poem about the Greek gods; and “The Shadow,” an apocalyptic tale about the last man on earth, are also included, showing Byron as a diverse and prolific poet. Crazy, bad and dangerous, Lord Byron is unparalleled in English literature.
Part of me feels reticent to sing the praises of this knowing that my exposure to Byron is really limited to more time spent reading his biography than his work, (I wanted to make sure I had read his biography first, and I’m glad I did, ) but the truth is I’m restless and give up on books a lot as well as recorded ones, partly my own lack of mental discliple but I’m a tough customer, and I devoured this. and still listen to it over and over, and only wish there were more of them.
