Manfred

MP3 Audio CD. The remarkable talent and flamboyant lifestyle of Lord George Gordon Byron have made him one of the most colorful and memorable poets, not only of British literature, but in the entire world. Byron?s poetry marked a striking difference from the typical tendencies of the time in the Romantic movement. Inspired by his travels and his ability to look beyond known gender stereotypes, Lord Byron wrote poems that are still very much appreciated by readers and audiences throughout the world today.

Manfred is quite possibly one of the most famous poems that built upon Byron?s controversial image even more at the time it was written. The poet wrote it in 1816 and 1817, right after his marriage to Annabella Millbanke had failed due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Fleeing England, Byron was never to return to his home country again, and Manfred is the poem that offers the most significant insight regarding his life at that time.

The poem follows Manfred, the quintessential Romantic hero, whose intense passion and supernatural abilities are in contrast with his isolation from the world around him. Manfred is consumed by his own guilt, which is associated to a transgression he unwillingly committed against the only other person he revered: Astarte.

On some levels, the poem is a deep psychological reflection of Byron himself; his convictions, his regrets and his strong passion all translated into a poem of intense emotional magnitude. According to many critics and experts, the story of Manfred and Asarte is a clear lyrical representation of Lord Byron?s relationship with his half-sister, Augusta Leigh, which was considered scandalous at the time.

Commended by Nietzsche, the poem was even put into musical form by two of the most distinguished classical composers in history ? Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Robert Schumann. Readers will find this timeless piece of poetry to be among Byron?s most enjoyable and memorable poems.