During Lord Byron's time in Venice (ca. 1816-1819), many in Italy were experiencing economic troubles, and the poet's celebrity elicited several requests from needy strangers. After Byron's death, the Countess Guiccioli, his last Italian mistress, saved a handful of letters to him from such petitioners. For an account of these letters, see Doucet Devin Fischer's "Countesses and Cobblers' Wives: Byron's Venetian Mistresses" in Shelley and his Circle; vol. VII, p. 191-193. · From an unidentified woman : 1 autograph letter signed "Serva" : ?Summer 1817 - Apr 1819 : (B'ANA 0282) : in Italian; requesting a loan of 12,000 francs. Published with translation as SC 282 in Shelley and his Circle; vol. VII, p. 231-233.
Biographical/historical: During Lord Byron's time in Venice (ca. 1816-1819), many in Italy were experiencing economic troubles, and the poet's celebrity elicited several requests from needy strangers. After Byron's death, the Countess Guiccioli, his last Italian mistress, saved a handful of letters to him from such petitioners. For an account of these letters, see Doucet Devin Fischer's "Countesses and Cobblers' Wives: Byron's Venetian Mistresses" in Shelley and his Circle; vol. VII, p. 191-193.
Content: · From an unidentified woman : 1 autograph letter signed "Serva" : ?Summer 1817 - Apr 1819 : (B'ANA 0282) : in Italian; requesting a loan of 12,000 francs. Published with translation as SC 282 in Shelley and his Circle; vol. VII, p. 231-233.
· From Teresa Beltrame, at Armeni Casa Rizzardi No. 856 : 1 autograph letter signed : 3 Jan 1818 : (B'ANA 0283) : in Italian; appealing to his generosity, providing her address for Byron to deliver aid in person. Published with translation as SC 603 in Shelley and his Circle; vol. VII, p. 304-307.
· From Vincenza Zatta and Domenica Favro, proprietors of the cafés called the Costanza and the Speranza : 1 letter signed : 11 Apr 1818 : (B'ANA 0284) : in Italian; knowing Byron to be a patron of their cafés, requesting that he intervene in legal proceedings on their behalf. Published with translation as SC 606 in Shelley and his Circle; vol. VII, p. 310-316.
· From Andrea de Bÿron, at San Apponale in Calle del Ponte Storto, no. 1559 : 1 autograph letter signed : 18 May 1819 : (B'ANA 0285) : in Italian; asking for help because his family has been evicted from their home for arrears of rent. Published with translation as SC 639 in Shelley and his Circle; vol. VII, p. 519-521.
Funding: Digitized through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.
