Byron’s poem 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' was first published in 1812 by John Murray, and was an instant success. Following the publication, the poet wrote in his diary: 'I awoke one morning and found myself famous'. It was this poem which first raised his profile as a major poet of the Romantic era.

Each of the four cantos of the poem is represented, with especially significant holdings relating to cantos III and IV. The manuscripts are mostly in the hand of Byron, but a fair copy of canto III is in the hand of Claire Clairmont. There is also a printed copy of the 5th edition (1812) of the poem, with corrections and insertions by Byron, which is after the manuscripts.