A MAN OF NO COUNTRY: Book 5 of the Lord Byron Series

Lord Byron #5

by Gretta Curran Browne

Having left England behind him, Lord Byron arrives on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, where he meets the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Godwin and Claire Clairmont. Four young people seeking a new life.All are brought to life in that happy and haunted summer of true friendship, love, and story-telling; when during a period of being housebound due to stormy weather over the Alps, Mary writes 'Frankenstein'; and Byron writes 'The Vampyre', later plagiarised and published by his physician John William Polidori.----

370 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2018

Reviews

[Heather]

Browne writes in a way that feels historically accurate as well as engaging. Her history of Lord Byron has me fascinated--I'd love a peek at her references and to better understand what is true and what is the author's artistry. This book takes place in Switzerland, and it was interesting to see Byron meet the Shelleys and learn some of their story. I look forward to the remaining books.

[Cindy Woods]

A great series!

What an amazing story! I had no idea Lord Byron was such a super star in his time. I cannot even imagine living my life under such a microscope.

The gossip and exaggerated stories and lies told about him are unbelievable. People are so cruel. And so many of them chasing him, spying on him, crowding him! The women throwing themselves at him is horrid. I can't understand how he managed to get tangled up with, always, the most devious, self-centered women.

This book relates his time in Switzerland after leaving England and his harridan of a wife. He meets up with Percy Shelley and his lover Mary and her step-sister Claire. We even get a glimpse into the creation of Frankenstein. The descriptions of various locations of interest are done so well you imagine yourself there whilst poetic verse is created and understood.

This truly has been a well-defined education for me on the romantic poetry of the late 18th and early 19th centuries covering so many of the icons of the era.

Gretta Curran Browne writes so fluidly as the life of Lord Byron flows onto the pages. Very hard to put down!

Highly recommend to readers of historical fiction.

[Claire]

I received A Man of No Country as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

The fifth in a series of historical fiction on the life of Lord Byron, this installment finds Byron traveling to Switzerland to escape his miserable marriage and forging a friendship with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his partner Mary Godwin, while escaping her stepsister Claire Claremont, who aggressively pursues a romance with Byron.

Joining this in the middle of an already well-developed series was a bit confusing, as there were clearly character developments and relationships that had taken place previously and would have made more sense had I known the backstory better. If you're joining at this point, it's possible to piece together what's going on, but it's certainly easier if you've read the previous novels in the series. On the whole, I think I would have preferred a bit more action; it seemed like a lot of walking and talking and battles of wits and wiles rather than any real plot, though Byron, Shelley, and Godwin were all fascinating, controversial figures for the times they lived in.

[Al Cate]

This something I very seldom do !!
"Don't bother me"
Because I am busy reading the next book.
Don't know when the last time I was so caught up in book series other than Tia Pan and that's all long time ago.
Will give you a real review as soon as I finish this series.
I didn't start with book one but would highly recommend that you do so.
This series gives me a whole new insight of Lord Gordon Byron, he is definitely not the way that I heard about. The further the series is completely read I promise a real reveiw but start reading NOW!
Thanks to those of you who have read this and understand what I am saying

[johanna kolb]

Beautiful

I was happy to get this book, excited to read it, sorry to come to the end!
Gretta Curran Browne is a fantastic story teller. She takes me to the places in the book and helps with my geography issues.
Lord Byron is well defined as are the characters he deals with such as Hobhouse and the shell's
Now I get to wait for the next installment.

[Kristi Nay]

These books have made me obsessed

I'd heard of Byron, but never looked into him. These books have made me obsessed with him. I can't wait for the final two books to come out. Gretta writes simply and compellingly. I feel I understand and know each character. I am so glad I found this series!

[Gale Gray]

Enjoyable

Loved learning more about this historical period and the people of lives during the early 1800s. Lord Byron's life was very interesting. I enjoyed how his poetry is incorporated throughout the series.

[Linda Grissom]

Fascinating

I am now ready for book 6. Amazing how Ms Browne has kept me entranced for so long with the subject of one man's life. I'm so glad that I came across this series and look forward to reading more of her novels in the future.

[Karen]

Intriguing

This's series had been very interesting and captivating. I have recommended it to friends. I only wish that these author would jabber end noted that States what is face and what fiction.

[Patricia]

Thoroughly enjoying this whole series. Look forward to #6.

[Lizw]

Continuing fun

[Oletta]

Informative and compelling, but too many grammatical and punctuation errors.

[Alan Porter]

Fantastic

[Carol Helverson]

Would really want to leave a review if I could overcome my eagerness to read on to book #6 in the series. Will let you know more later.

[Mary Forsythe]

I have read all of the Lord Byron Biography books so far and I have found them to be delightful.

[Judy]

Fifth in a series of seven. So far, good stories. Look forward to the last two.

[Ruth]

I was there in Switzerland with Bryon and Shelley.