Nobody spoke for a moment. At the sight of Mr. Collins standing in the doorway of Lord Byron’s apartments at the Palazzo Mocenigo, the persons assembled wore expressions ranging from surprise, horror, and pained disdain; but no one looked at all happy. Mr. Collins, who seemed the least distressed, was the first to speak. “Lady …
Category: Diana Birchall
Unmasked: The Darcys in Venice. Mocenigo Mayhem.
“Papa! Papa!” shrieked Allegra. The pretty little three year old girl, her father’s dimple in her chin and with sparkling eyes, propelled herself into Lord Byron’s arms. “Gently, gently, mia cara. What? You are pleased to see Papa again? But you know I said you should.” “Will you stay with me this time, Papa?” “We …
Unmasked: The Darcys in Venice – The Arrival of Shelley
Lord Byron had quite forgotten about his dinner invitation to the Darcys, as Shelley’s arrival had distracted him. They had not met in several years, and after warm greetings Shelley lost no time in freeing his mind about his first concern: the fate of Byron’s little daughter Allegra. The child’s mother, Claire Clairmont, lived with …
A Visit to the Statue
I’m just back from a trip to England – my first in a few years, since before pandemic, and the loss of my husband last year. Being in England again gave me a stunning feeling of recognition, of being reconnected to places and things I love dearly, and that bring joy. My son Paul and …
Jane Austen Unmasked: A Visit to Shelley by Diana Birchall
Note to readers: I have been using a working title of The Darcys in Venice for this continuing story, but now so much of it has accumulated that we are only a few installments away from The End, and I plan to publish it in book form. I wanted a better title, and thought Jane …





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