The Poetry of Algernon Charles Swinburne - Volume XVI: The Tale of Balen

The biography details Algernon Charles Swinburne's life, highlighting his literary achievements and struggles. Notably, he gained fame with "Atalanta in Calydon" and "Poems and Ballads," which featured controversial themes and a commitment to art for art's sake. His work is characterized by intense lyricism and intricate imagery. Swinburne faced personal challenges, including excessive drinking and health issues, which led to a transformative intervention by his friend Theodore Watts-Dunton. Despite a decline in popularity, Swinburne's literary criticism and poetry remained influential until his death in 1909.