International Byron Society

After reading through Peter Cochran's ed. of Don Juan Canto 1, & as well as consulting McGann's variant readings, I was struck with the parallels with B's own Separation; not only is Lady Byron represented by Donna Inez, but as well as Julia, esp. during the scene where Alfonso is searching for Don Juan, but neglects to actually look inside the bed. And if we also consider Leon to Annabella, it makes the parallels even more striking.

Any opinions?

For instance, we need to only look at Don Juan Canto 1 st. 125, ll.1-2:

"Sweet is a legacy, and passing sweet
The unexpected death of some old Lady"

Of course he is referring to Lady Noel [famously referred to as "Lady No-ill", as well as "dangerously well again" in his ltrs]; though this Canto was written in 1818, Byron would have to wait until Jan. 1822 before Lady Noel finally died, & he could than inherit the Noel estates, along with Lady Byron.

In many ways this 1st Canto could be considered an adjunkt to the Memoirs that he was writing at the same time, though we all know what happened to them.

Comments?

Dan