Adieu Most Amiable Mamma…
In the hagiography which often passes for the writing of Byron’s life, Catherine Gordon Byron is somewhat of a ‘Marmite’ figure for you will either love OR hate her!
All posts tagged: Leigh – Hon. Augusta Mary née Byron (1783-1851)
It’s Daggers at Dawn!
One July evening – Lord Byron attended a ‘Small Waltzing Party’ in London despite his intense dislike for the ‘fashionable Waltz’ on account of his lameness AND for his disdain for anything remotely fashionable…
To the Vale of Graves…
And one glorious afternoon in October I took a stroll through this fabulous cemetery to the grave of Byron’s spouse…
Blest Her! The Angel Suffers No More…
“Oh! my God! how has my poor Child been sacrificed! not only to a wicked, but unmanly Creature!”
The agitated author of this letter was the Hon. Judith Noel in the dying days of January 1816 as the marriage separation between her beloved only daughter and Lord Byron became increasingly acrimonious and as the latter prepared for a life in exile far away from the marital home of 13 Piccadilly Terrace in London.
However, Judith was QUITE mistaken in her distraught prediction about her ‘poor child’s’ imminent demise…
I Am YOUR Child!
Accused of being “Unreasonable – most excited – most irritated – changing however from storm to sunshine at every moment” – Elizabeth Medora Leigh would finally succeed in alienating herself from all who could offer her protection…
I Once More Remind You…
The author of this missive is one Elizabeth Medora Leigh writing about the kindness of her aunt Lady Byron who had just informed her that her father was none other than the celebrated poet AND uncle, Lord Byron.
Born on this day April 15 in 1814, Elizabeth Medora was the fourth child of the Hon. Augusta Mary Byron and Colonel George Leigh and arguably THE most notorious…
Lady Melbourne Braves Opinion!
Educated, attractive and with a talent for ambition – Elizabeth Milbanke would soon move away from provincial Yorkshire and become one of the most celebrated Society Hostesses on behalf of the Whig Party…
We Three? ‘Tis a Pity!
Lady B’s desire to be ‘securely separated’ from her spouse was reaching an increasingly bitter, fraught and heart breaking conclusion.
Like Seaham Hall? Vastly!
One cold weekend in February and with the clearest skies imaginable, I returned to the place that Byron had confessed to taking a liking to ‘vastly’…
Dearest Duck, It’s Over!
Yes, February is the month for a profusion of chocolates, expensive red roses and some very dubious Valentine’s cards but oh, what a month of anticipation!
A Stroll Along Piccadilly? Oh! The Agony!
Having ‘metropolized’ to London for the day – one quiet and chilly afternoon I went for a stroll along Piccadilly to take a lingering look at the abode which was the scene of his short and difficult union with the unfortunate, former Annabella Milbanke…
The Tale of a Byronic Enfant Terrible!
On the first day of February 1814 -the publication of ‘The Corsair’ became a “thing perfectly unprecedented” according to His Lordship’s proud and increasingly successful publisher, John Murray.
Behold the Blessings of Lady Noel – Damn!
As we know that no one lives forever and seven months after Lord B’s most facetious letter – his Mamma-At-Law died on Monday January 28 in 1822.
A Cup of Kindness Yet?
January 25 is the celebration of Burns Night and having enjoyed a fabulous supper of Haggis – I had to refuse the ‘wee dram’ of fine Scotch whiskey on offer.
However, had I done so, I could have raised a glass in honour of the character in this post – Lady Caroline Lamb who died on this day in 1828 at the age of forty two
AND it’s probably fair to say that even with the passage of time, opinion remains as divided about her in death, as it was in life!
