Percy Bysshe Shelley Popular Books

Percy Bysshe Shelley Biography & Facts

Percy Bysshe Shelley ( BISH; 4 August 1792 – 8 July 1822) was a British writer who is considered one of the major English Romantic poets. A radical in his poetry as well as in his political and social views, Shelley did not achieve fame during his lifetime, but recognition of his achievements in poetry grew steadily following his death, and he became an important influence on subsequent generations of poets, including Robert Browning, Algernon Charles Swinburne, Thomas Hardy, and W. B. Yeats. American literary critic Harold Bloom describes him as "a superb craftsman, a lyric poet without rival, and surely one of the most advanced sceptical intellects ever to write a poem." Shelley's reputation fluctuated during the 20th century, but in recent decades he has achieved increasing critical acclaim for the sweeping momentum of his poetic imagery, his mastery of genres and verse forms, and the complex interplay of sceptical, idealist, and materialist ideas in his work. Among his best-known works are "Ozymandias" (1818), "Ode to the West Wind" (1819), "To a Skylark" (1820), "Adonais" (1821), the philosophical essay "The Necessity of Atheism" (1811), which his friend T. J. Hogg may have co-authored, and the political ballad "The Mask of Anarchy" (1819). His other major works include the verse dramas The Cenci (1819), Prometheus Unbound (1820) and Hellas (1822), and the long narrative poems Alastor, or The Spirit of Solitude (1815), Julian and Maddalo (1819), Adonais (1821), and The Triumph of Life (1822). Shelley also wrote prose fiction and a quantity of essays on political, social, and philosophical issues. Much of this poetry and prose was not published in his lifetime, or only published in expurgated form, due to the risk of prosecution for political and religious libel. From the 1820s, his poems and political and ethical writings became popular in Owenist, Chartist, and radical political circles, and later drew admirers as diverse as Karl Marx, Mahatma Gandhi, and George Bernard Shaw.Shelley's life was marked by family crises, ill health, and a backlash against his atheism, political views, and defiance of social conventions. He went into permanent self-exile in Italy in 1818 and over the next four years produced what Zachary Leader and Michael O'Neill call "some of the finest poetry of the Romantic period". His second wife, Mary Shelley, was the author of Frankenstein. He died in a boating accident in 1822 at age 29. Life Early life and education Shelley was born on 4 August 1792 at Field Place, Warnham, West Sussex, England. He was the eldest son of Sir Timothy Shelley (1753–1844), a Whig Member of Parliament for Horsham from 1790 to 1792 and for Shoreham between 1806 and 1812, and his wife, Elizabeth Pilfold (1763–1846), the daughter of a successful butcher. He had four younger sisters and one much younger brother. Shelley's early childhood was sheltered and mostly happy. He was particularly close to his sisters and his mother, who encouraged him to hunt, fish and ride. At age six, he was sent to a day school run by the vicar of Warnham church, where he displayed an impressive memory and gift for languages.In 1802 he entered the Syon House Academy of Brentford, Middlesex, where his cousin Thomas Medwin was a pupil. Shelley was bullied and unhappy at the school and sometimes responded with violent rage. He also began suffering from the nightmares, hallucinations and sleep walking that were to periodically affect him throughout his life. Shelley developed an interest in science which supplemented his voracious reading of tales of mystery, romance and the supernatural. During his holidays at Field Place, his sisters were often terrified at being subjected to his experiments with gunpowder, acids and electricity. Back at school he blew up a paling fence with gunpowder.In 1804, Shelley entered Eton College, a period which he later recalled with loathing. He was subjected to particularly severe mob bullying which the perpetrators called "Shelley-baits". A number of biographers and contemporaries have attributed the bullying to Shelley's aloofness, nonconformity and refusal to take part in fagging. His peculiarities and violent rages earned him the nickname "Mad Shelley". His interest in the occult and science continued, and contemporaries describe him giving an electric shock to a master, blowing up a tree stump with gunpowder and attempting to raise spirits with occult rituals. In his senior years, Shelley came under the influence of a part-time teacher, Dr James Lind, who encouraged his interest in the occult and introduced him to liberal and radical authors. Shelley also developed an interest in Plato and idealist philosophy which he pursued in later years through self-study. According to Richard Holmes, Shelley, by his leaving year, had gained a reputation as a classical scholar and a tolerated eccentric.In his last term at Eton, his first novel Zastrozzi appeared and he had established a following among his fellow pupils. Prior to enrolling for University College, Oxford, in October 1810, Shelley completed Original Poetry by Victor and Cazire (written with his sister Elizabeth), the verse melodrama The Wandering Jew and the gothic novel St. Irvine; or, The Rosicrucian: A Romance (published 1811).At Oxford Shelley attended few lectures, instead spending long hours reading and conducting scientific experiments in the laboratory he set up in his room. He met a fellow student, Thomas Jefferson Hogg, who became his closest friend. Shelley became increasingly politicised under Hogg's influence, developing strong radical and anti-Christian views. Such views were dangerous in the reactionary political climate prevailing during Britain's war with Napoleonic France, and Shelley's father warned him against Hogg's influence.In the winter of 1810–1811, Shelley published a series of anonymous political poems and tracts: Posthumous Fragments of Margaret Nicholson, The Necessity of Atheism (written in collaboration with Hogg) and A Poetical Essay on the Existing State of Things. Shelley mailed The Necessity of Atheism to all the bishops and heads of colleges at Oxford, and he was called to appear before the college's fellows, including the Dean, George Rowley. His refusal to answer questions put by college authorities regarding whether or not he authored the pamphlet resulted in his expulsion from Oxford on 25 March 1811, along with Hogg. Hearing of his son's expulsion, Shelley's father threatened to cut all contact with Shelley unless he agreed to return home and study under tutors appointed by him. Shelley's refusal to do so led to a falling-out with his father. Marriage to Harriet Westbrook In late December 1810, Shelley had met Harriet Westbrook, a pupil at the same boarding school as Shelley's sisters. They corresponded frequently that winter and also after Shelley had been expelled from Oxford. Shelley expounded his radical ideas on politics, religion and marriage to Har.... Discover the Percy Bysshe Shelley popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Percy Bysshe Shelley books.

Best Seller Percy Bysshe Shelley Books of 2024

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    John Addington Symonds

    It is worse than useless to deplore the irremediable; yet no man, probably, has failed to mourn the fate of mighty poets, whose dawning gave the promise of a glorious day, but who ...

  • The Gilded Chalet synopsis, comments

    The Gilded Chalet

    Padraig Rooney

    Part detective work, part treasure chest, full of history and scandal, The Gilded Chalet takes you on a grand tour of two centuries of great writing by both Swiss and foreign autho...

  • The Collected Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    The Collected Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    This comprehensive eBook presents the complete works or all the significant works the Œuvre of this famous and brilliant writer in one ebook easytoread and easytonavigate: The ...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Fiona Sampson

    In this series, a contemporary poet selects and introduces a poet of the past. By their choice of poems and by the personal and critical reactions they express in their prefaces, t...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley as a Philosopher and Reformer synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley as a Philosopher and Reformer

    Charles Sotheran

    Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is regarded by critics as amongst the finest lyric poets in the English language. A radical in his poetry as w...

  • The Complete Poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    The Complete Poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    This carefully crafted ebook collection is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents: The Daemon of the World Alastor: or, the Spirit of Solitude....

  • Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein synopsis, comments

    Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein

    Linda Bailey & Julia Sarda

    The inspiring story of the girl behind one of the greatest novels and monsters ever, perfectly timed for the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein. For fans for pi...

  • The Complete Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    The Complete Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley endures today as the great Promethean bard of the High Romantic period who is best remembered for extolling the sublime and affirming the possibility of transc...

  • The Best Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    The Best Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    The letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley are collected in this volume. Shelley's unique perspective and esoteric interests are explored in greater detail in his personal letters.

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley & Philip Dossick

    “Then will oppression’s iron influence show; The great man’s comfort as the poor man’s woe...” The Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley died on 8 July 1822, at the age of 29, when ...

  • Rest in Pieces synopsis, comments

    Rest in Pieces

    Bess Lovejoy

    A “marvelously macabre” (Kirkus Reviews) history of the bizarre afterlives of corpses of the celebrated and notorious dead.For some of the most influential figures in history, deat...

  • 50 Greatest Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    50 Greatest Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley was born in 1792 at Horsham. He was amongst the second generation of Romantic Poets, and is widely associated with other poets Keats and Byron. Shelley then on...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    James E. Barcus

    The Critical Heritage gathers together a large body of critical sources on major figures in literature. Each volume presents contemporary responses to a writer's work, enabling stu...

  • The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley from the original editions. Edited, prefaced, and annotated by R. H. Shepherd. VOL.II synopsis, comments

    The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley from the original editions. Edited, prefaced, and annotated by R. H. Shepherd. VOL.II

    Percy Bysshe Shelley & Richard Herne Shepherd

    The POETRY & DRAMA collection includes books from the British Library digitised by Microsoft. The books reflect the complex and changing role of literature in society, ranging ...

  • Notes to the Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Notes to the Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Mary Shelley

    Notes to the Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Mary Shelley, english novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer (17971851) This ebook pre...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    John Addington Symonds

    John Addington Symonds was an English poet and literary critic.  Symonds best known books are his biographies including one on the great poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.  A tab...

  • The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Most of Shelley’s poetry reveals his philosophy, a combination of belief in the power of human love and reason, and faith in the perfectibility and ultimate progress of man. His ly...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    John Addington Symonds

    Percy Bysshe Shelley by John Addington Symondslibreka classics – These are classics of literary history, reissued and made available to a wide audience. Immerse yourself in wellkno...

  • The Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Edited by Mrs. Shelley. A new edition. synopsis, comments

    The Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Edited by Mrs. Shelley. A new edition.

    Percy Bysshe Shelley & Mary Shelley

    The POETRY & DRAMA collection includes books from the British Library digitised by Microsoft. The books reflect the complex and changing role of literature in society, ranging ...

  • Complete Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Complete Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    The Delphi Poets Series offers readers the works of literature's finest poets, with superior formatting. This volume presents the complete works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, with beaut...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    John Addington Symonds

    Percy Bysshe Shelley (4 August 1792 – 8 July 1822) was one of the major English Romantic poets and is regarded by critics as amongst the finest lyric poets in the English language....

  • Anecdote Biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Anecdote Biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    This biography uses real anecdotes from the life of Percy Bysshe Shelley to tell the story of the famous poet. It contains scattered revelations and personal insights that cannot b...

  • The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Edited by Mrs. Shelley. synopsis, comments

    The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Edited by Mrs. Shelley.

    Percy Shelley & Mary Shelley

    The POETRY & DRAMA collection includes books from the British Library digitised by Microsoft. The books reflect the complex and changing role of literature in society, ranging ...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Jacqueline Mulhallen

    Percy Shelley (17921822) was one of the major English Romantic poets. This biography of emphasises the political, revolutionary side of his dramatic life. Shelley has long been re...

  • The Collaborative Literary Relationship of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley synopsis, comments

    The Collaborative Literary Relationship of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

    Anna Mercer

    How did Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, two of the most iconic and celebrated authors of the Romantic Period, contribute to each other’s achievements? This bo...

  • Notes to the Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Notes to the Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Mary Shelley

    Notes to the Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe (1839) is a remarkable collection by the romantic poet, Shelley, who wrote more than a thousand pages of poetry over his career...

  • The Original Frankenstein synopsis, comments

    The Original Frankenstein

    Mary Shelley

    Working from the earliest surviving draft of Frankenstein, Charles E. Robinson presents two versions of the classic novelas Mary Shelley originally wrote it and a subsequent vers...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    John Addington Symonds

    The work delves into the life and works of Shelley. Symonds has provided a rich biography of the man and he dispels a lot of misconceptions about the great poet. Glimpses of other ...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    John Addington Symonds

    With centuries of literature, it's inevitable that some will fall through the cracks. We hunt down public domain works and restore them so they're not lost to the world. Who are w...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    John Addington Symonds

    Percy Bysshe Shelley John Addington Symonds, english poet and literary critic (18401893) This ebook presents «Percy Bysshe Shelley», from John Addington Symonds. A dynamic table of...

  • The King and the Catholics synopsis, comments

    The King and the Catholics

    Antonia Fraser

    In the eighteenth century, the Catholics of England lacked many basic freedoms under the law: they could not serve in political office, buy or inherit land, or be married by the ri...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Henry Stephens Salt

    This is a biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley, famous English poet and husband of Mary Shelley.

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    Thomas R. Slicer

    The enduring power of Shelly's work is applauded in this brief study. The second section of the book contains an illustrated bibliography of the poet's early work.

  • Young Romantics synopsis, comments

    Young Romantics

    Daisy Hay

    Young Romantics tells the story of the interlinked lives of the young English Romantic poets from an entirely fresh perspectivecelebrating their extreme youth and outsize yearning ...

  • Percy Bysshe Shelley synopsis, comments

    Percy Bysshe Shelley

    John Addington Symonds

    This book is perfectly adapted and layout for a pleasant reading on a tablet, smartphone or computer. To improve your reading experience, this digital version has been edited and f...