Albie the mad Albanian: The cross-cultural influence between Byron and Albania

The subject of Byron and Albania has been historically neglected but merits study for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the importance Byron himself gave to Albania. While Western Byron scholars have tended either to omit discussion of Albania or to conflate Albania with Greece in Byron’s writing, a reading of “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage” and its notes will demonstrate the centrality of Albania to the formation of the Byronic persona. In addition, this thesis draws on Albanian scholarship on Byron, furthering international work on this crucial aspect of Byron’s career