The Byron Society

2013 was a very active year for the Society and it was certainly a busy one for myself, as I took over as Director from Maureen O’Connor in June. It was obviously of assistance to have taken over from such an experienced and competent predecessor. Maureen and Dr. Peter Payan have become Vice-Presidents of the Society in recognition of their many years of service. We are also grateful to Richard Davis, who has agreed to become Treasurer of the Society.

The most important event in 2013 for the Society was the 39th International Byron Conference held jointly with King’s College London. It was extremely well organised by King’s College and was very successful with delegates coming from all over the world. Dr. Roderick Beaton and Dr. Christine Kenyon-Jones, both also Byron Society members, led the King’s College Team. The Society’s financial contribution of £5,000 (matched by King’s College’s free provision of their rooms) enabled the conference to take place in London for the first time in many years. Fortunately there was no need for any further contribution towards a deficit!

Besides the presentation of academic papers delegates were able to attend an out-of-hours reception at the British Museum to see the Elgin Marbles and listen to a re-enactment of the debate between Lord Byron and Lord Elgin amongst other entertainments. I remember with particular pleasure the reception at John Murray’s house and Orthodox Vespers at King’s College Chapel.

Society events held during the year included a talk by Artemis Cooper on her biography of Patrick Leigh Fermor. Her talk was very much appreciated by her audience. It was both informative and charming. Dr. Godwin-Austen, a distinguished neuro-surgeon, spoke on ‘Byron’s Last Illness’. His talk was well-researched, learned and original. Roderick Beaton (Koraes Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine History and Language and Director of Hellenic Studies at King’s College) spoke at the Christmas dinner on Byron and the Greek War of Independence (his book on the same subject had been launched at the International Conference). His talk was entertaining as well as learned. Dr. Adam White, a young academic, spoke on the darkness in Byron’s poetry. His well-prepared paper managed to be both witty and erudite (a winning combination) and greatly impressed his audience.

There was also a highly successful trip to our President’s, the present Lord Byron’s, home to view family memorabilia associated with the poet. The weather was not kind, but our reception was and Lord Byron had taken care to prepare an excellent talk about the objects we viewed.

This year there has been an important development in relation to the Byron Journal. Besides members continuing to receive hard copies of the two issues published each year by Liverpool University Press, they are now also able to access the archive electronically. I know that this privilege is much appreciated by both our newer and some of our older members.

Sadly I have to report the death of two members, Mrs. Dulcibel Mackenzie and Mrs. Mango. You will be glad to know that the Society was represented at the funerals of both. Mrs. Mango had continued to attend Byron Society events regularly until the end of 2012. Professor Anne Barton, a distinguished Cambridge academic as well as society member, has also died (see Obituary in this issue). The Society will be represented at her memorial service.

It is good to report that the number of new members joining the Society during the year was in double figures. Some of the new members are from overseas, others are more locally based. It is also good that a joint venture with Keats House takes place in September 2014. This, along with a public lecture in November, are part of a policy to reach out and encourage a greater interest in Byron’s poetry in the public at large in accordance with the Charity’s aims.

The Society remains committed to providing a full programme of events for its members and to playing its proper role in the...