ABSTRACT
This section aims to introduce Byron's major works, to indicate the principal themes and literary features of the poems and to give suggestions for further reading. Byron was a prolific writer, so it has been necessary to be selective: for example, The Giaour is discussed in more detail than the other Oriental tales and Cain taken as an example of one of Byron's verse dramas. Quotations from the poetry are either by canto and stanza (in the case of a long poem such as Childe Harold's Pilgrimage), by act, scene and line in the dramas or by line number in poems not divided into stanzas. The text cited is Lord Byron: The Complete Poetical Works edited by Jerome J. McGann (abbreviated to CPW), whose notes should be consulted for more detailed information than is given here on likely dates of composition and the textual history of the poems. This will be especially necessary when studying Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan, as they were published in parts over many years. McGann's notes on the different stages of publication provide evidence that the popularity of Byron did not just happen but came about as the result of the poet's deep immersion in the literary scene, especially when in professional collaboration with the firm of John Murray. Before he left England in 1816, Byron was closely involved in the publishing process and extremely responsive to readers’ reactions. He was sometimes persuaded to tone down or remove contentious passages by Murray or his advisers. On the other hand, the poet habitually made additions, emendations and corrections not only while a work was being prepared for the press but to each of its early editions.
