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hannahws's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Trust Lord Byron to check every mood box on the list! I'm annoyed by Don Juan - I want to hate Byron unequivocally, but hot damn he can write. His descriptions are so lush, rich, and evocative, he has a fantastic way with words and wordplay, and there's so many interesting historical subtextual glimpses and references that I know I'll be rereading this book for a while
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Violence
franfernandezarce's review against another edition
4.0
*4,5*
Hail, Muse! et cetera
Not only that verse is brilliant, but it also defines exactly the type of poem Don Juan is. Irreverent, self-aware, and able to capture that strange balance between ridiculousness and social relevance. In other words, Don Juan was more enjoyable than I had expected from this type of tale.
But, still, when one tries to talk of this poem, it is rather difficult to take it as a whole and just analyse and discuss the entirety of the poem. I do not think that that is very much possible; I think a distinction is necessary when discussing this book between form and content
Tis melancholy, and a fearful sign | Of human frailty, folly, also crime | That Love and Marriage rarely can combine, | Although they both are born in the same clime
This is not the story of the character Don Juan, but Byron's retelling of the ideal of this womanizer, seductive and irresistible Spaniard. And in this new version, Don Juan is more like a good looking boy which ladies cannot resist, quite innocent and incredibly easy to seduce. So, you might tell which is the main problem I have with the content of this poem.
The work of the verse is perfectly alright: the metre is arranged in a way that you know—once you've read two stanzas or so—that the punchline will be at the end of each one, in its last couplet. There is nothing wrong with that; I loved it; it made me laugh. The jokes were well delivered for it.
But (and this is a big "but") I do not like—and certainly do not enjoy as much—to read stories where women are the wicked creatures who lead heroes astray from their goals or just, pretty much, corrupt them. It goes to show you that I did not like The Odyssey for the same reasons, even though it was enjoyable at other points, too.
The Sacraments have been reduced to two, | And Witches unto none, though somewhat late, | Since burning aged women (but a few-- | Not witches but b--ches who create | Mischief in families, as some know or knew, | Should still be singed, but lightly, let me state) | Has been declared an act of inurbanity (...)
I feel this poem lose its potential with me when Byron spent his time discussing the ways of women or describing how clueless Juan was. Yet, at the same time, he won multiple points with me when he discussed other topics like love, war, politics and what I considered to be his favourite practice: throw massive shade unto Wordsworth’s works.
I must clarify this: I read parts of Wordsworth's Prelude. I did not like it. I can sympathise with Byron's opinions. And I wanted more of them.
And Wordsworth, in a rather long Excursion (...) | Has given a sample from the vasty version | Of his new system to perplex the sages; | Tis poetry--at least by his assertion (...) | And he who understands it would be able | To add a story to the Tower of Babel.
I mean, it is not even subtle.
How about instead of talking about the mutable and inherent wicked ways of the female sex, we trash-talk Wordsworth's poetry some more? Just saying.
Hail, Muse! et cetera
Not only that verse is brilliant, but it also defines exactly the type of poem Don Juan is. Irreverent, self-aware, and able to capture that strange balance between ridiculousness and social relevance. In other words, Don Juan was more enjoyable than I had expected from this type of tale.
But, still, when one tries to talk of this poem, it is rather difficult to take it as a whole and just analyse and discuss the entirety of the poem. I do not think that that is very much possible; I think a distinction is necessary when discussing this book between form and content
Tis melancholy, and a fearful sign | Of human frailty, folly, also crime | That Love and Marriage rarely can combine, | Although they both are born in the same clime
This is not the story of the character Don Juan, but Byron's retelling of the ideal of this womanizer, seductive and irresistible Spaniard. And in this new version, Don Juan is more like a good looking boy which ladies cannot resist, quite innocent and incredibly easy to seduce. So, you might tell which is the main problem I have with the content of this poem.
The work of the verse is perfectly alright: the metre is arranged in a way that you know—once you've read two stanzas or so—that the punchline will be at the end of each one, in its last couplet. There is nothing wrong with that; I loved it; it made me laugh. The jokes were well delivered for it.
But (and this is a big "but") I do not like—and certainly do not enjoy as much—to read stories where women are the wicked creatures who lead heroes astray from their goals or just, pretty much, corrupt them. It goes to show you that I did not like The Odyssey for the same reasons, even though it was enjoyable at other points, too.
The Sacraments have been reduced to two, | And Witches unto none, though somewhat late, | Since burning aged women (but a few-- | Not witches but b--ches who create | Mischief in families, as some know or knew, | Should still be singed, but lightly, let me state) | Has been declared an act of inurbanity (...)
I feel this poem lose its potential with me when Byron spent his time discussing the ways of women or describing how clueless Juan was. Yet, at the same time, he won multiple points with me when he discussed other topics like love, war, politics and what I considered to be his favourite practice: throw massive shade unto Wordsworth’s works.
I must clarify this: I read parts of Wordsworth's Prelude. I did not like it. I can sympathise with Byron's opinions. And I wanted more of them.
And Wordsworth, in a rather long Excursion (...) | Has given a sample from the vasty version | Of his new system to perplex the sages; | Tis poetry--at least by his assertion (...) | And he who understands it would be able | To add a story to the Tower of Babel.
I mean, it is not even subtle.
How about instead of talking about the mutable and inherent wicked ways of the female sex, we trash-talk Wordsworth's poetry some more? Just saying.
milos_booknook's review against another edition
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This masterpiece is composed of incredibly humorous and satirical lyric poetry, with surprisingly modern and simple lines. You don’t need to be an avid reader or posses a background in literature to thoroughly enjoy this piece of art.
I cannot stress enough how funny Don Juan is. I’ve highlighted numerous lines and written annotations so I can come back to them. As someone who’s not into poetry, I can honestly say this 17-canto epic poem is one of the greatest pieces of writing I’ve ever read.
zuleika's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
2.0
thanks FUCK this is over. such a slog.
enoughgaiety's review against another edition
4.0
Other than some of Keats's short lyric poetry and Coleridge's weirder stuff, probably my favorite British Romantic production.
thespiritoftheage's review against another edition
5.0
Outstanding. Complete, sincere (careful with that word when dealing with Byron), amusing, exciting, epic, engaging, charming. Unsurprisingly sexist and racist. All the elements a work part of the British Canon must contain. It was great fun reading this. Thanks Byron.