The Works of Lord Byron: Poetry / edited by Ernest Hartley Coleridge. Vol. 4

Published by John Murray in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this seven-volume edition represents one of the most comprehensive and scholarly efforts to catalogue Lord Byron's literary output. Edited by Ernest Hartley Coleridge, a grandson of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the series was intended to replace previous, fragmented editions with a definitive, annotated text that utilized original manuscripts and primary source materials. This project served as a landmark in Victorian-era literary criticism, aiming to restore the nuances of Byron's verse that had been edited or censored in earlier decades.

The design of this edition reflects the dignified, traditional aesthetic associated with John Murray, the historical publisher of Byron's work. Bound in a style typical of late-Victorian library sets, the volumes feature crisp typography and rigorous academic footnoting, which Coleridge meticulously compiled to provide historical context for Byron's sprawling poetic career. Upon its release, the edition was praised by contemporary critics for its archival precision and for bringing a new level of clarity to Byron's complex body of work, solidifying its place as a staple for scholars and serious collectors of Romantic literature.