
Childe Harold's Pilgrimage: Canto IV
'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage: Canto IV ' Summary
The poem contains elements thought to be autobiographical, as Byron generated some of the storyline from experience gained during his travels through Portugal, the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea between 1809 and 1811. The "Ianthe" of the dedication was the term of endearment he used for Lady Charlotte Harley, about 11 years old when Childe Harold was first published. Charlotte Bacon, née Harley, was the second daughter of 5th Earl of Oxford and Lady Oxford, Jane Elizabeth Scott. Throughout the poem, Byron, in character of Childe Harold, regretted his wasted early youth, hence re-evaluating his life choices and re-designing himself through going on the pilgrimage, during which he lamented various historical events including the Iberian Peninsular War.
Despite Byron's initial hesitation at having the first two cantos of the poem published because he felt it revealed too much of himself, it was published, at the urging of friends, by John Murray in 1812, and brought both the poem and its author to immediate and unexpected public attention. Byron later wrote, "I awoke one morning and found myself famous". The first two cantos in John Murray's edition were illustrated by Richard Westall, well-known painter and illustrator who was then commissioned to paint portraits of Byron.
Published on March 3, 1812, the first run of 500 quarto copies sold out in three days. There were ten editions of the work within three years. Byron was deeming the work "my best" in 1817, a year before adding a fourth canto.
Book Details
Author

George Gordon Byron, Lord
England, Ottoman Empire, Turkey
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, known simply as Lord Byron, was an English peer, who was a poet and politician. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic Movement and is regarded as one...
More on George Gordon Byron, LordDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

The Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare
The poem begins with a prose dedication addressed directly to the Earl of Southampton, which begins, "The love I dedicate to your Lordship is without...

The Cheery Way, a Bit of Verse for Every Day - April by John Kendrick Bangs
What if there was a book that could make you smile every day of the year? The Cheery Way, a Bit of Verse for Every Day - April is a collection of hum...

Lucasta by Richard Lovelace
This is a captivating collection of poems that explores the depths of human emotions, captivating readers with its lyrical beauty and timeless themes....

Selected Poems of John Drinkwater by John Drinkwater
It is a captivating collection of poetry. Filled with lyrical beauty and heartfelt emotions, these poems will enchant young readers and transport them...

The Gift of India by Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu, was the female activist who worked with Gandhi during India's struggle for independence from Britain. This piece is about soldiers fro...

唐诗三百首 卷一 Three Hundred Tang Poems, Volume 1 by Various
The Three Hundred Tang Poems is an anthology of poems from the Chinese Tang dynasty (618–907). It was first compiled around 1763 by Sun Zhu (1722–1778...

Satires by Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis (Juvenal)
These are a collection of sixteen satiric monologues where Juvenal does his best to poke his finger in the eye of the Roman society of his day for not...

Petunia Blossomsv by Dorothea Auguste Gunhilde Schrage
In the enchanting pages of "Petunia Blossoms" by Dorothea Auguste Gunhilde Schrage, a captivating journey unfolds as we follow the remarkable life of...

Fifty Years & Other Poems by James Weldon Johnson
Fifty years of history, culture, and experience are captured in these poems by James Weldon Johnson, a pioneering African American writer and activist...

The Golden Carol by Anonymous
This is a mesmerizing poem that weaves together the essence of joy, love, and celebration. Its authorship shrouded in mystery, this lyrical masterpiec...
Reviews for Childe Harold's Pilgrimage: Canto IV
No reviews posted or approved, yet...