Susannah Fullerton Literary Lecture Series: Those Mitford Girls and The Wicked Poet, Lord Byron

David Roche Gallery welcomes Susannah Fullerton for a special literary lecture series, exploring fascinating insights into the lives and works of the Mitford sisters, and the colourful, shocking and revolutionary life of one of England’s greatest poets, Lord Byron.

Lecture 1 - “THOSE MITFORD GIRLS!”

Wednesday 15 July 2026, 6:00–7:15pm

The aristocratic Mitford sisters were writers and socialites, biographers and essayists. Jessica, who wrote Hons and Rebels and The American Way of Death, was a communist and human rights activist. Unity sympathised with the Nazis and worshipped Hitler. Nancy’s Love in a Cold Climate characters had a reckless upper-class Bohemianism and were determined to find life amusing at all costs, Diana became the most hated woman in Britain during World War II and Debo became a Duchess.

Susannah Fullerton looks at the lives and works of these unconventional sisters.

Lecture 2 - “MAD, BAD AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW: THE WICKED POET, LORD BYRON”

Thursday 16 July 2026, 6:00–7:15pm

Lord Byron was both famous and infamous for his audacious poetry, his scandalous love life (which included an affair with his half-sister!) and his devotion to liberal ideals. Ostracised by English society, Byron went off to fight for Greek independence and died at 36. His personality and his romantic poetry made a unique impression on 19th century Europe and the term “Byronic” was coined.

Susannah Fullerton recites some of his best-loved poems and tells the story of the colourful, shocking and revolutionary life of one of England’s greatest poets. Find out just why Byron was considered “mad, bad and dangerous to know”!

About the speaker

Susannah Fullerton, OAM, FRSN, has been President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia for more than 30 years. She is a popular literary lecturer and also leads literary tours overseas for Australians Studying Abroad.

Susannah is an author and has published several books on Jane Austen, as well as 'Brief Encounters: Literary travellers in Australia'. Her latest book, published by the Bodleian Library, is the bestselling 'Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them'.

Each ticket includes one beverage on arrival.

Limited parking available on-site.

Wheelchair accessible.

Image: Susannah Fullerton https://susannahfullerton.com.au/