This famous and most authentic biography of Byron’s life when became published way back in 1830, was marked as a major literary event. In those days, readers anticipated eagerly to find details about this famous prodigy’s separation from his wife and an array of rumor concerning his love life and romanticism. Though the publication equally dreaded Byron’s acquaintances as this prodigious author famously had a habit of saying embarrassing things about almost anyone, not even sparing his closest acquaintances, friends and family. In that respect, the book Life of Lord Byron by Thomas Moore
was a rather courageous decision to tell the story of Byron’s life in the befitting manner that he always wished it to be told. Before the publication, Moore himself had been quite anxious in anticipating the reaction of readers and people who have been dear to him. But, the final outcome actually surpassed all previous biographical account on the life of the author and till date is regarded as the decisive text to have any deeper glimpse into the life, time and works of Lord Byron.
Great exploration of Lord Byron’s life
It is quite difficult to name a biographical work which shows more kindness, exactitude, fairness and modesty than this work. Evidently enough, it has been written to offer insights into the author prodigy’s life rather than just for offering so called anecdotes and events in his life. It is quite admiring a fact that while relating in detail or explaining something Mr. Moore as the biographer never really thrust himself in but rather took always the solemn position of a historian. Though throughout the better part of his life he had been a close friend of Byron he never subjected himself to any temptation of egotism and restrained from saying about himself except where it had been absolutely necessary. Taking a lot of materials from the then surviving Letters and Journals of Lord Byron he made the book a pleasure thing to read with an array of original writings offering insights into the life of the author. The task of a biographer to a great extent is akin to a historian and in that sense our biographer dealt with great judgment and objective exactitude. The life of Lord Byron is well known for several of his typical personality traits including his petulance, irritability and also his communicativeness. Moore’s biography dealt with all these attributes of the personality rather than just sticking to gross aspects.
Byron and Moore, grave influence on each other
While there is a common perception that Percy Bysshe Shelley as a poet had the gravest influence upon Lord Byron’s work, it has been contradicted by many contemporaries that Moore as the close friend had no less influential presence in Byron’s life and work than other living writers of his era. The literary relationship of Lord Byron and Thomas Moore has already been subject of various studies and critical accounts, though their massive volume of correspondence to this day serve as the biggest proof of this mutual influence and sharing of minds.
Lord Byron’s attempt to imitate the early erotic lyrics of Thomas Moore is already well known in literary circles and this has been exemplified by many posthumous critical works on their mutual influence. Byron’s literary influence upon Moore was also tremendous, particularly this influence is clearly seen in the oriental flavored and narrative poems by Moore that were written in the first quarter of Nineteenth century. The two prodigy’s literary relationship and lifelong involvement besides contributing to their individual works also laid bare the social undercurrents and artistic inspiration as well. With such a stature of friendship and mutual influence, Thomas Moore is likely to be the deserving person to author the biography of Lord Byron.
Insightful exploration of Byron’s life, time and text
This novelistic and equally accurate account of Byron’s life and time unquestionably takes the reader to the deeper recesses of artistic creation that Lord Byron is credited for. It is the sensitive heart of the poet prodigy that speaks throughout this book and it is another poet friend who captures the quintessential charm of Byron in his said utterances and through his eventful life. There is not a single instance in the whole book that can be cited for stiffness in language, and awkwardness in proving something. It has less drawn to style and more to substance and to make the unheard-of heard. It took a detailed look at the Byron’s art from the perspective of his life rather than just from literary explanation. In that sense it is a great guide for readers of Byron and classical English poetry.
