Introduction to "You're Dead to Me" Podcast
History podcast targeted at those who dislike or lack knowledge of history.
Host: Greg Jenner, a public historian and author, known for his role in BBC's "Horrible Histories."
Format: Each episode features an expert historian and a comedian.
Episode Overview: Lord Byron
Topic: Early 19th-century Britain and Lord Byron, a famous romantic poet and early celebrity.
Guests:
Dr. Corinne Throsby, a Byron expert from the University of Cambridge.
Ed Gamble, a comedian.
Byron's Celebrity
Lord Byron, real name George Gordon Byron, was considered one of the first celebrities.
Known for his looks and flamboyant lifestyle; described as "mad, bad, and dangerous to know" by Caroline Lamb, his ex-lover.
Early Life
Byron was born in 1788 to a relatively well-off family, but his father was financially irresponsible.
Nicknamed "Mad Jack Byron"; died when Byron was three, leaving Byron to be raised by his mother in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Byron inherited the title of Lord at age ten when he gained access to his family's estate, Newstead Abbey, but it was debt-ridden and in disrepair.
Attended Harrow School at age ten, where he faced bullying due to a club foot and used boxing to defend himself.
Education & Early Relationships
Byron attended Cambridge, where he kept a bear as a pet instead of a dog, in defiance of university rules.
Had close relationships with other students, including John Edelston, suggesting Byron may have had a bisexual orientation.
First known crush at age 15 on a girl named Mary Chawith.
The Grand Tour & Early Works
The Grand Tour was a rite of passage for young aristocrats to travel around Europe and gain cultural knowledge.