“Will seduce the reader right off the bat.” — Perfect for fans of POLDARK and DOWNTON ABBEY – Readers’ Favorite Book Award Winner Finalist in the IAN BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD for Outstanding Historical Fiction
He was later to become known as “The most beautiful and most famous man in England” — but not yet….As a boy he thought his name was George Gordon, but that wasn’t true. He thought … he thought his name was George Gordon, but that wasn’t true. He thought he would grow up poor, but that also wasn’t true. Long before he rose from obscurity to poetic stardom and became Britain’s first superstar, he had learned that his true surname was Byron
Although presented in Novel form and cloaked in the style of fiction,, this is the true and meticulously researched story of the most iconic superstar of his time – Lord Byron. Ignoring all the old and unproven rumours and sensational scandals fabricated at the time of the 19th Century, which have been regurgitated by biographers every generation – all the events in this book come from the people who physically were THERE with Byron at the time. If they were not there, or did not write about it, or did not see the events as eyewitnesses – they are NOT included in this book.
Beginning when he is a boy of ten years old, we join George Gordon when he is living a miserable life with his manic Scottish mother in a few rented rooms above a shop in Aberdeen, unaware that his true heritage is with the English aristocracy – who soon come to claim him.
A life of wealth and privilege is then bestowed upon him, which eventually sets the stage for him to prove his own individual worth, in his own way, and in his own time.
Meticulously researched, and adapted into novel form, ‘A Strange Beginning’ is the first of a series of books about the most iconic young man of his time, whose fame still lives on today.
“My name alone shall be my epitaph.” — BYRON
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Loved the characters!
Better than I thought it would be. This is a novelized biography of Lord Byron. The first book takes him up to age 23. I was looking up facts about him online and the novel adhered to his real life. He was certainly an interesting character, and he did indeed have a strange beginning to life. I will have to look for the next one in the series. Can’t be a long series— he didn’t live that long! I will have to say that I’m not a particular fan of his romantic poetry. I was more impressed by the lines quoted in the book from Wordsworth, who Byron had made fun of in his early, ignorant days.
An inaccurate bore.
I am a big fan of historical fiction. This book gives a peek into what Lord Byron might have been like.
I found the characters very interesting but the story was drawn out and wordy.
This was a unique story of Lord Byron’s early life. As a work of fiction I expected less telling in places. But that being said, the story did hold my attention. I knew little of Byron’s younger years. I found reading his earlier verses and letters quite interesting. His talent still speaks from the page and resonates all these years later
I enjoyed this book very much as I didn’t know much about Lord Bryon. He was certainly a character. Book was well written and shows that a lot of research went into writing it.
Offered great insight into Lord Byron.
The writing is great. All the words flow with careful elegance, but where’s the hook?
A beautiful boy is born to a harridan of a mother. A flaming narcissist, she is angry he was born with a deformed foot, and focuses her anger and frustration on him. He is tormented in every way, and survives her intense abusive moods with resignation. Bullied in school, he excels in every way he can. Still in his boyhood, he inherits a fortune and a title from an uncle, and lives a changed existence – unfortunately, with the same mother. He is the poet Lord Byron, expressing love, passion, and satire in his powerful words. This well-researched fiction incorporates a few lines of poetry and several interesting letters. Well done character study.
I learned much about Lord Byron’s early years.
I read it, and kept reading, because I know enough about Lord Byron’s history to be curious about the early years and the gaps.
I never could get involved, tho’ I did finish it, and will try the next one in the series. But the author just didn’t seem to be involved with her subjects. There were comments about them, their relations, their lives, but nothing rang with real life.
And goodness, but she’s made Byron into a saint. Now again, I mostly only know his later bio, but was he truly such a pattern-card of loving perfection in his youth, when surrounded by such a bizarrely twisted mother, servant, life-situation, etc?
Perhaps the author is trying to create sympathy to keep us rooting for him as he slides into his adult, unique lifestyle? I noticed she carefully avoids clearly stating his homosexual relationships.
I appreciate that she mentions his sense of humor, but the quotes she’s choosing don’t show that. “Oh Julia! O Julia my love,” he moans, trying for romantic pathos as he vomits from sea sickness …. (one of my favorite bits from Childe Harold)
Facts aren’t always presented (his mother renting out his estate to her lover, who likely sodomized the young Byron, for example) Worth a quick read-through, but more a romanticised fantasy than a biography of an exceedingly complex and not entirely likeable, tho’ brilliant, and ultimately larger-than-life man.
This book was well worth the read. I knew almost nothing about Lord Byron and now i feel he is a friend. The writing style vacillated from intimate to detached, from feeling like a novel to feeling like a well-researched textbook… nevertheless, there was enough intimacy to make one care about the protagonist.
One quibble: “obviate” does not mean “to make obvious”
I enjoyed this book very much and it has made me want to read the bio of lord Byron.
Loved all the books about Lord Byron
Wonderful series about the life of Lord Byron! Must read whole series!
This was a very interesting book, a lot about a period of time regarding boarding schools, all male life styles, family expectations, and romantic ideals. Lots of poetry by Lord Byron and a life story both tragic & realistic. I inherited a book of Byron’s poems from my mother & now I understand them better.
Believe there are about five books in this series and was ready for the next book each time. I was eager for the next installment of the life of Lord Byron, not what you often read in the history and literature books about him. I enjoy getting a better understanding of the social mores of the times through reading books such as this one.
This book is a winner for fans of historical fiction. While the plot keeps the story going, it is the microscopic look into Byron’s heart and soul that win the day.
Captivating story. Ordering the next book in the series. Can’t wait.