Chapter Prince of Peace to Prisoner of Chillon of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

(21) Wither (George) wrote his eclogues in prison. (See Shepheards Hunting.)

(22) Wollett composed his Black Dwarf in prison.

(Many more names might be added, but space forbids.)

Prisoner of Chillon, François de Bonnivard, a Frenchman who resided at Geneva, and made himself obnoxious to Charles III. duc de Savoie, who incarcerated him for six years in a dungeon of the Château de Chillon, at the east end of the lake of Geneva. The prisoner was ultimately released by the Bernese, who were at war with Savoy.

Byron has founded on this incident his poem entitled The Prisoner of Chillon, but has added two brothers, whom he supposes to be imprisoned with François, and who died of hunger, suffering, and confinement. In fact, the poet mixes up Dantê’s tale about count Ugolino with that of François de Bonnivard, and has produced a powerful and affecting story, but it is not historic.