The Mark Steel Lecture

The Mark Steel Lecture this week provided a comic insight into the poet's (Lord Byron) life that goes beyond the well known tales of seduction and incest. Steel recounted Byron's background and travels, his cynicism for rulers, and his captivation by spirit of French revolution. He spent his life surrounded by the gentry but in his first speech to the Lords, he defended the Luddites. Byron, said Steel, was privileged but tormented - he hated the wealthy but loved wealth. Ultimately, our lecturer argues that the Byron stayed true to the passionate convictions of his youth and was disappointed, if not enraged, by those he thought had abandoned their principles. Maybe that's something of which prospective MPs should take note as they try to win our hearts.