is impressive in its generic range, featuring odes, elegies, dedicatory “stanzas”, love lyrics, and translations of various sorts. In many respects it also serves as an appropriate chronological and thematic starting point for exploring Byron’s poetry, especially for those readers daunted by his longer, later, more famous works. Yet while it has garnered a modest amount of critical attention over the years (Gleckner 1–39; Blackstone 3–40),

does seem to occupy a still too minor place in Byron’s oeuvre given the ambition and range apparent in the volume, though scholars such as Caroline Franklin (4–5) and Peter Cochran (15–16) have outlined recently the historical and literary contexts of the work.

Hours of Idleness was published in 1807:

1382 words

Citation: White, Adam. "Hours of Idleness". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 February 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4695, accessed 21 November 2024.]