Byron, Poetics and History (Cambridge Studies in Romanticism, Series Number 52)

Jane Stabler offers the first full-scale examination of Byron's poetic form in relation to historical debates of his time. Responding to recent studies of publishing and audiences in the Romantic period, Stabler argues that Byron's poetics developed in response to contemporary cultural history and his reception by the English reading public. Drawing on extensive new archive research into Byron's correspondence and reading, Stabler traces the complexity of the intertextual dialogues that run through his work. For example, Stabler analyses Don Juan alongside Galignani's Messenger - Byron's principal source of news about British politics while in Italy - and refers to hitherto unpublished letters between Byron's publishers and his friends to reveal a powerful impulse among his contemporaries to direct his controversial poetic style to their own conflicting political ends. This fascinating study will be of interest to Byronists and, more broadly, to scholars of Romanticism in general. Jane Stabler Offers The First Full-scale Examination Of Byron's Poetic Form In Relation To The Historical Debates Of His Time. Responding To Recent Studies Of Publishing And Audiences In The Romantic Period, Stabler Argues That Byron's Poetics Developed In Response To Contemporary Cultural History And His Reception By The English Reading Public. Drawing On Extensive New Archive Research Into Byron's Correspondence And Reading, Stabler Traces The Complexity Of The Intertextual Dialogues That Run Through His Work. For Example, Stabler Analyses Don Juan Alongside Galignani's Messenger - Byron's Principal Source Of News About British Politics While In Italy - And Refers To Hitherto Unpublished Letters Between Byron's Publishers And His Friends Revealing A Powerful Impulse Among His Contemporaries To Direct His Controversial Poetic Style To Their Own Political Ends. This Study Will Be Of Interest To Byronists And, More Broadly, To Scholars Of Romanticism In General.--jacket. 1. 'scorching And Drenching': Discourses Of Digression Among Byron's Readers -- 2. 'breaches In Transition': Eighteenth-century Digressions And Byron's Early Verse -- 3. Erring With Pope: Hints From Horace And The Trouble With Decency -- 4. Uncertain Blisses: Don Juan, Digressive Intertextuality And The Risks Of Reception -- 5. 'the Worst Of Sinning': Don Juan, Moral England And Feminine Caprice -- 6. 'between Carelessness And Trouble': Byron's Last Digressions. Jane Stabler. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 225-241) And Index. Content: Cover Half-title Series-title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Note on texts Abbreviations Introduction: Byron and the poetics of digression CHAPTER ONE Scorching and drenching': discourses of digression among Byron's readers CHAPTER TWO Breaches in transition': eighteenth-century digressions and Byron's early verse CHAPTER THREE Erring with Pope: Hints from Horace and the trouble with decency CHAPTER FOUR Uncertain blisses: Don Juan, digressive intertextuality and the risks of reception. Jane Stabler presents this examination of Byron's poetic form in relationship to historical debates of his time. Responding to recent studies in the Romantic period, Stabler asserts that Byron's poetics developed in response to contemporary cultural history and his reception by the English reading public. Drawing on new research, she traces the complexity of the intertextual dialogues that run through his work. Examines Byron's poetic form, arguing that his poetics developed as a response to contemporary cultural history and the English public's response to his work.