The high-spirited, digressive, conversational and often masterful comic epic

is the capstone of Byron's poetic career. Begun in 1819 and published in a series of instalments, the poem takes its hero through comic, erotic and martial adventures that were stopped only by the poet's death in 1824. In one of the poem's many self-reflexive moments, Byron commented:

I write what's uppermost, without delay; This narrative is not meant for narration, But a mere airy and fantastic basis, To build up common things with common places. (14. 7)

I write what's uppermost, without delay; This narrative is not meant for narration, But a mere airy and fantastic basis, To build up common things with common places. (14. 7)

The meandering momentum of the narration, however, should not blind

1925 words

Citation: Mole, Tom. "Don Juan". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 June 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5556, accessed 23 April 2024.]

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