Recently, I rewatched one of my favourite movies Into the Wild at a rooftop cinema in Lisbon. At the right beginning, George Gordon Byron's (aka Lord Byron) poem appeared on the screen and inspired me to share some fun facts about him in this week’s article.
Take One
Lord Byron spent his formative years in Aberdeen, Scotland, because his mother was Scottish. He had a love-hate relationship with Scotland. In his early years, Byron depicted Scotland as the land of bastards, full meanness, sophistry, and mist. However, later in his life, he wrote poems to praise Scotland as his beloved homeland and proudly claimed himself as “half a Scot by birth, and bred/A whole one”. Just like my relationship with my mother country China - only after I left her for good did I realize my deep roots entangled with her in many ways.
Take Two
“Byronic hero” refers to a person with severe physical and mental defects (e.g. Byron himself suffers from lameness and is regarded as an unethical bad boy), walking between the lines of villain and hero. Perhaps irascible and cynical, but at the same time talented, full of passion, rebelling against the authority and injustice of the world, and usually end their life with self-destructive. One of my favourite literature characters Heathcliff is a brooding and vengeful representative in Emily Brontë's classic novel. His intense love for Catherine Earnshaw and his destructive behaviour showcase the typical traits of a Byronic hero.
Take Three
Lord Byron’s wife left him following the birth of their daughter because of his alcoholism and debt. He never saw either his wife or daughter again. His only legitimate daughter Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer. Coincidentally, Ada died aged 36, the same age as Byron himself.
Take Four
Lord Byron had a close friendship with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. He presided over Shelley’s funeral and became the executor of his will. In 1816, Byron hosted the group, including the Shelley couple, to spend a rainy afternoon writing ghost stories, where Shelley’s wife, Mary Shelley, wrote what became Frankenstein. Mary had a pair of celebrity parents: the first modern proponent of anarchism William Godwin as her father and the feminist pioneer Mary Wollstonecraft as her mother.
Take Five
Lord Byron wrote a poem named Lachin y Gair (known as Dark Lochnagar in English), discussing his childhood in northeast Scotland. This poem later became a classic Scottish folk song. The most prevalent version is by the Scottish folk band The Corries.
The Show Continues…
While organising my bookshelf, I stumbled upon a collection of Byron's poems I found in Auckland in 2015. Flipping through the dog-eared pages, I came across a poem written by George Byron in memory of the poet Charles Churchill. I had marked this particular page during my previous research into the poet. However, as I was about to close the book, my attention was abruptly drawn to a petite poem nestled in the upper left corner: "On My Thirty-Third Birthday." It was a serendipitous moment to read this poem at the end of my 33rd year.
Speaking of the poet George Byron, he inherited the title of Lord Byron from his great-uncle in 1798 and simultaneously inherited a dilapidated ancestral estate in Scotland. Byron was a talented and unpredictable figure; it's said that he even kept a bear in his room while studying at Cambridge University. Among his numerous scandalous relationships, Lady Caroline Lamb's assessment of Byron as "mad, bad, and dangerous" remains the most famous.
With the publication of "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," Byron became a literary sensation, and his wild and combative personality made him the focus of public attention in Britain. No other writer captured the spirit of the Romantic era as profoundly as Byron. While the Enlightenment swept through Britain and rational thought illuminated Europe, Byron, along with John Keats and Percy Shelley, felt dissatisfied. They believed that too much reason was dulling the spirit of human civilization, leading them to initiate a Romantic movement in response.
Whether it was Keats' portrayal of the unknowable beauty of nature or Shelley's vision of societal decay, these young artists sought to redefine the sublime qualities of nature and the human spirit. Byron, with his incredible energy and abundant emotions, voiced his discontent with the era, and reading his poetry, you can sense the grand adventurous spirit and deep melancholic fatalism that he carried.
In the 1820s, Byron actively participated in the movement to help Greece gain independence from the Ottoman Empire. He used his fame to raise funds for Greek freedom fighters and even joined the battle himself. Byron's fate, like his Romantic friends Keats and Shelley, tragically saw him depart from the world they rebelled against at an early age. Perhaps, for these individuals dedicated to Romantic ideals in every word and deed, such a fate was the most fitting destiny.
The Stage Awaits
Lord Byron started his first European Grand Tour in 1809, departing from Britain and eventually arriving in Portugal. During his visit to Sintra, a Portuguese locale celebrated for its historical significance and captivating beauty, Lord Byron showered it with accolades. In his renowned epic poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," he praised Sintra as "perhaps in every respect the most delightful in Europe," affectionately likening it to a "glorious Eden." Sintra's rich history, coupled with its captivating landscapes, earned it the prestigious status of a UNESCO World Heritage site, rendering it an indispensable destination for travellers exploring Portugal.
As I wandered amid splendid palaces and gardens, explored ancient castles and churches in Sintra, and then ventured to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe, I felt the invigorating sea breeze and treaded along scenic trails. Gradually, the clutter in my mind settled, bestowing upon me a profound sense of groundedness.
I used to love the bustling city life and thought I couldn't live without it. Surprisingly, as time passed, I began to appreciate the beauty of flowers, plants, and natural scenery more and more. A London astrologer once predicted that I would eventually retreat to the tranquillity of mountains and forests, and it seems like I'm heading in that direction.
Maybe it's because of the years I spent living in Europe, where I learned to enjoy life's small joys. By embracing this return to a simpler way of living, I've gained a clearer view of the world around me and a better understanding of myself.
This transformation reminds me of Lord Byron's poems, where he often wrote about nature and self-discovery. Byron's verses illustrate how getting closer to nature and simplifying our lives can bring profound insights and a stronger self-connection, something I've grown to value.