"Don Juan" (excerpts from Canto I) by George Gordon, Lord Byron (poetry reading)

These are a some stanzas cherry-picked from Canto 1, to tell the story of Don Juan's seduction by Donna Julia in the 10 minute time limit.

Byron's Don Juan is not the serial seducer of women of his popular reputation: in fact he's the one who is easily seduced. If he were female he'd be a pushover but he is male so he's a pullover.

This looks like thinly disguised autobiography: there are obvious parallels with Byron's own youth. He even switches between the third and first person in times of passion. Byron was well aware of this, so what was he doing?

I think I'll keep most of my opinions to myself. But I'm sure Byron wouldn't mind me saying that in my opinion it's a well-wrought piece of work, very lively and gay.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Don
• Juan
• Byron
• poem

[AugustInTransit]

@sblaney66 . It is generally pronounced Ju-An since that's the way that Bryon used it to rhyme. Like he rhymes it with "one' in the first stanza.

[greenstboy]

Wonderful reading of a wonderful poem!

How marvelously artistically erotic compared to the cliches of today's cheap and tawdry porn. Byron, wouldst thou were living, the world has need of thee!

[anaruxandra]

well first I heard Don Juan is pronounced like this I thought...how strange...that's how the Catalans would pronounce it. Like Joan Miro the painter....

I really like your reading and it also helps a lot to see the text!!!! Thank you :)

[bellrope]

What a splendid story and told so well.

Thanks for putting me under your spell.

[colourfulbuttons]

i do love Bryon :)