Lord Byron part III

Byron visited Malta and Greece. He was interested in Greece particularly as he had been schooled in the classics, He spent 2 years travelling and then returned to England in 1811, and his experiences brought him material for long dramatic poems…. On his return he published Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, whose hero is like Byron, a young man sated and bored with his homeland, who seeks adventure, travelling in foreign lands. Byron sympathised with the Greek people, and supported the cause of Greek independence. He found the Ottoman Empire’s culture interesting as well, particularly since there was greater sympathy for homoerotic relationships. He seems to have been sexually attracted to women, but to have disliked them and preferred male company. When he published Childe Harold, he awoke find himself famous. It had a great influence on future writers and painters. Byron had the entree to Regency society, due to his birth. His poem made him adored and lionised in the highest social circle. He seemed rather bored with social events and concentrated on writing more poems. His next poem was the Bride of Abydos, which had a Turkish theme. He became involved in a very public love affair with the socialite Lady Caroline Lamb.. who fell madly in love with him. She followed him about to parties, making scenes. He grew bored with her and continued to have affairs with other women, and to live extravagantly, running up debts. Byron’s mother had died in 1811. Now, he began to think of trying to find a wife, who might have some money. He began to court an heiress, Annabella Milbanke, who was unusually intelligent and interested in mathematics. Byron was attracted to her but his chief motive in thinking of marriage was probably to sort out money problems. He did not have a high opinion of women’s intelligence. During his courtship of Annabella, he renewed contact with his half sister, Augusta Leigh, the daughter of his father's first marriage. He and Augusta had not known each other well until this time, so they met almost as strangers. It seemed that a mutual attraction flared up which may have led to an incestuous affair. The half brother and sister were very close and fascinated with each other. It didn’t bode well for Byron’s marriage. Within a short time of the marriage, they both knew it had been a mistake. Byron was depressed and gloomy, he drank heavily and was so erratic that Annabella thought he was mad and began to fear for her life. Their separation, and the rumours about Byron's affair with his sister, caused a lot of scandal in Society. Annabella produced a daughter, Ada, but she and Byron were estranged. There may also have been rumours about Byron's attraction to young men. He left England and went to live mainly in Italy. He had other relationships and then went to fight for Greek independence.. He had a passionate affair with a young man and died young. Lady Byron put about stories that he was mad and bad which damaged his reputation. He insinuated to her that he had been having an affair with Augusta... and talked so wildly that she was afraid of him.