Byron's Travels

This is an account of Lord Byron from his first "grand" tour in July 1809 until his death at the age of 36, placing him in the political and cultural setting of his time. No English poet enjoyed a higher contemporary reputation on the continent and none had more influence. In Greece he became a national hero; in Italy it was declared that "the day will come when Democracy will remember what it owes to Byron"; yet in England his morals were considered so dangerous that young women were urged to avert their gaze from him. There are extracts from his prolific writings of his travels. The book follows Byron's first travels in Portugal, southern Spain, Sardinia, Malta, Athens, Symrna and Constantinople. His second departure from England was precipitated by the break up of his marriage to Anne Isabelle Milbanke. Pursued by scandal and rumours circling around this break up, he left for Italy, via Switzerland and Milan, where he met Shelley and the French writer Stendhal. He lived in Italy for the next seven years, then in Greece until his death, where he brought what aid he could to the Greek struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire. This publication coincides with the bicentenar