1936

[Maurois, André]. Bailun de tong nian. Tang Xirui yi. [ID D25277].
Chu Chih-yu : Maurois's Byron was a great contribution to Western Byron scholarship. Maurois was a good critic and biographer. In this book, he did not try to prove something, but simply presented to use a life character, a human being as well as a noble soul. Unlike Brandes, who distrusted Byron's journals and letters, Maurois relied on them abundantly, especially regarding Byron's private affairs. Again, unlike Brandes, he stood on a more neutral ground. He did not raise Byron to the level of God nor did he try to cover up or defend his weaknesses. The book is a biography, focussing more on life than on poetry. When poems are discussed, they often serve as illustrations of certain aspects of his life. Its translation should have provided Chinese readers with a more comprehensive understanding of Byron as a real person. From this translation (chap. 1-13) the Chinese learned more about Byron's early childhood, his mother, his school life, and some of his women.