Fiona MacCarthy makes a breakthrough in interpreting Byron's life and poetry drawing on John Murray's world-famous archive. She brings a fresh eye to his early years: his childhood in Scotland, embattled relations with his mother, the effect of his deformed foot on his development. She traces his early travels in the Mediterranean and the East, throwing light on his relationships with adolescent boys - a hidden subject in earlier biographies. While paying due attention to the compelling tragicomedy of Byron's marriage, his incestuous love for his half-sister Augusta and the clamorous attention of his female fans, she gives a new importance to his close male friendships, in particular that with his publisher John Murray. She tells the full story of their famous disagreement, ending as a rift between them as Byron's poetry became more recklessly controversial. Byron was a celebrity in his own lifetime, becoming a 'superstar' in 1812, after the publication of Childe Harold. The Byron legend grew to unprecedented proportions after his death in the Greek War of Independence at the age of thirty-six. The problem for a biographer is sifting the truth from the sentimental, the self-serving and the spurious. Fiona MacCarthy has overcome this to produce an immaculately researched biography, which is also her refreshing personal view.

The Complete Works of Lord Byron is a comprehensive collection of the renowned British poet's works, including his famous narrative poems, plays, and satires. Known for his romantic and rebellious spirit, Lord Byron's literary style draws on themes of love, nature, and personal anguish. His provocative and passionate verses often challenge societal norms, making him a controversial figure in the Romantic literary movement. This significant compilation provides readers with a glimpse into Byron's complex psyche and his mastery of poetic expression. Lord Byron's works continue to captivate audiences with their emotional depth and lyrical beauty. The Complete Works of Lord Byron is a must-read for poetry lovers and enthusiasts of Romantic literature, offering a profound insight into the mind of one of the most influential poets of his time.