What better introduction to Byron could one possibly ask for? With the obvious exception of Shakespeare, Byron is possibly the most written about poet/writer - not only because of his immortal poetry, but because of his incredibly interesting life. In just over 500 pages, Marchand manages to give us a highly readable portrait of the man - his fascinating life, his inspiring poetry, his inimitable letters and his keen sense of humour. Byron was unique in that he was an ambiguous poet - he was the Prince of the Romantic movement, but he was also a biting satirist.
I have neglected giving the book five stars for 2 reasons: firstly because I do not think Marchand said nearly enough about the greatness and sheer poetic beauty of Byron's first great work - Childe Harold's Pilgrimage; and secondly because the middle chapters dealing with Byron's years of fame (i.e 1812-1816) deteriorate into an absolute bore when discussing Byron's courtship of various women (Marchand goes into excrutiating details via the use of letters) - so much so that it, in fact, becomes a relief to the reader when Byron departs England never to return.
Having said that, it is still the best introduction to Byron for the new Byron fan, and Marchand is by far the most reliable authority. Byron's life reads like a highly intricate novel - proving that sometimes the truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

It is fortunate that I have a copy of this book, but I would wish for it to be brought back into print for everyone's benefit, everyone being those who are interested in the life of Lord Byron, as well as the definitive "Romantic Hero." I have yet to see any biographies or criticism on Byron that have outdone any of Marchand's work. His painfully meticulous inquiry into Byron's life, as well as the lives of his associates, is second only to his vibrant way of weaving all of this information together to bring forth the portrait of Byron. This is not only a portrait of Byron, but one of the general Romantic Hero; anyone who is interested in the culture and history of this period of time, as well as Romanticism in general, would benefit intellectually from reading this book. If you wish to know more about Byron's role in the struggles for Greek independence, about the various rumors intertwined with Byron's love associations, about his interactions with the Shelley family, or about his personal quirks, then you will enjoy this book immensely. Luckily, Marchand is able to balance out his portrait without slipping into "gossip column writer mode."

In an age when academic types write books to show off theoretical knowledge or a large vocabulary, it is refreshing to see a book that relies more on actual knowledge rather than theory; indeed, the writing style is neither pedantic nor alienating. Readers who are not formal students of literature will feel more than comfortable with this book, while those who are engaged in formal scholarship will find this an enlightening example of pure and true scholarship.