Published anonymously in the summer of 1819, the first two cantos of Byron’s ‘satirical epic’ Don Juan provided the reading public with a work which self-consciously raised and challenged received ideas about fame, originality, and literary merit and was admired and reviled in almost equal measure. While some were shuddering with outrage, others saw the significant commercial opportunities offered by Byron’s ‘Donny Jonny’, with parodies, musical adaptations, and ‘new’ Cantos flooding the market alongside the numerous pirated copies.

Join us for a packed day of papers on everything from the influence of Homer and Mozart to the popular reception of this most scandalous of poems in England and Spain.

The conference fee includes coffees, lunch and a drinks reception. There is an optional conference dinner (and Byron Quiz), and an optional trip to see Newstead Abbey in all its festive glory on Sunday the 8th of December.

Members of our Society receive a substantial discount on registration fees, however if you are not a member, you can also purchase 2020 membership now and receive the discount. Details of the benefits of joining our society can be found at www.thebyronsociety.com. We are an active, vibrant organisation offering a host of monthly events including talks, dinners, trips, conferences, book launches and poetry readings around the UK. Members also receive complimentary copies of our highly regarded publication The Byron Journal. Membership is £30.00 standard or £25.00 for students (and we also offer a £45.00 couple's rate). This means you can join The Byron Society and come to our conference for just an extra £10.00 on top of the non-member registration fee! To make things easy, you can even buy 2020 membership here along with your ticket (for new members only, this option should not be used by existing members).