Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824. Corsair

The Corsair (1814) is a long tale in verse written by Lord Byron (see 1814 in poetry) and published by John Murray in London. There were seven editions of the work within the year. It was extremely popular, selling ten thousand copies on its first day of sale, and was influential throughout the following century, inspiring operas, music and ballet. The 180-page work was dedicated to Irish poet Thomas Moore. The story centers on Conrad, a cynical, mysterious pirate captain, a "Byronic hero", who leads a daring raid against a Turkish Pacha, Seyd. He is captured but is rescued by a captive named Gulnare, whom he later rejects after his wife, Medora, dies of grief.