Byron's Women

Starred review from February 19, 2018
In this captivating biographical history, Larman (Restoration: The Year of the Great Fire) investigates nine women entangled with the brooding, handsome Romantic poet George Gordon, Lord Byron. Noted for his words and notorious for his behavior, Byron loved many, both men and women. The author begins with the poet’s mother, Catherine, who was married and widowed young by Byron’s profligate, gambling father. He then profiles several of Byron’s lovers, including Claire Clairmont, Teresa Guiccioli, Caroline Lamb, and Mary Shelley, as well as Byron’s daughters, Ada Lovelace, by his wife, Annabella (whom he raped upon marrying), and Elizabeth Medora Leigh, infamously by his half-sister Augusta. Larman chose to focus on these women, he tells the reader, in part because they had to deal with one another, and those dealings elicited both allegiance and enmity. Each is a fascinating figure deserving of her own biography; Ada, for instance, became a pioneer in the early development of computers and in the sciences. Caroline Lamb called Byron, “Mad, bad, and dangerous to know,” and reading these pages brings home this truth. Yet learning about Byron’s milieu causes the reader to wonder how he could have been otherwise. Larman has created a well-researched, fascinating look at Byron’s life and times.

Starred review from April 1, 2018

Lord Byron, considered one of the greatest Romantic poets, is also renowned for being a cad, especially in his treatment of women. This book examines nine important female figures in Byron's life, including his tormented mother, abused wife, various lovers, and his daughters. Larman (Restoration) describes how Byron behaved toward many of these women with a narcissism and cruelty at times impossible to fathom. He left damaged individuals and illegitimate children in his wake, including a daughter from a possible incestuous relationship with his half-sister. The descriptions of Byron's frequently debauched exploits validate his disreputable reputation. One lover called him "mad, bad and dangerous to know." Citing from correspondence, journals, Byron's poetry, and other sources, Larman's exceptionally researched work creates a troubling portrait. Although Byron's behavior prompted his departure from England, he was never held accountable for his actions. In today's society, Byron would be considered a sexual harasser or predator. Throughout most of his life, "Byron esteemed few people," particularly the women closest to him. VERDICT This excellent study reveals both the brilliance and brutishness of Byron, appealing to readers interested in poetry, English literature, and women's studies.--Erica Swenson Danowitz, Delaware Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Media, PA

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