Percy Bysshe Shelley
(1792-1822)

poet, radical thinker, democrat, philanthropist, and atheist

Died aged 29

Percy Bysshe Shelley (/bɪʃ/ BISH; 4 August 1792 – 8 July 1822) was 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." Shelly'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), the philosophical essay "The Necessity of Atheism" written alongside his friend T. J. Hogg (1811), and the political ballad "The Mask of Anarchy" (1819). His other major works include the verse drama The Cenci (1819) and long poems such as Alastor, or The Spirit of Solitude (1815), Julian and Maddalo (1819), Adonais (1821), Prometheus Unbound (1820)—widely considered his masterpiece—Hellas (1822), and his final, unfinished work, 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 Leader and 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 the age of 29.

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friend of Edward John Trelawney

Commemorated on 15 plaques

Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792-1822 poet lived here in 1811

15 Poland Street, W1, London, United Kingdom where they lived

Poet and radical thinker Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792 - 1822 Two of his earliest works were printed here.

Warwick Street, Worthing, United Kingdom where they printed two of his earliest works

Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792-1822 poet & radical thinker & Mary Shelley 1797-1851 author of Frankenstein lived in a house on this site 1815-16

87 Marchmont Street, London, United Kingdom where they lived

In this churchyard lie the mortal remains of Mary Shelley author of "Frankenstein" her father William author of "Political Justice" her mother Mary author of "The Rights of Women" her son Percy, Jane his wife and the heart of Percy Bysshe her husband the poet

St Peter's, Bournemouth, United Kingdom where they lies

The poet & playwright Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife Mary authoress of Frankenstein lived here 1817-1818

Shelley House, West Street, Marlow, United Kingdom where they lived (1817-1818)

Percy Bysshe Shelley lived at No. 26 Nelson Square which formerly stood on a site north of this building

Applegarth House, Nelson Square, SE1, London, United Kingdom where they lived near

A Percy Bysshe Shelley che nella primavera del 1819 scrisse in questa casa il Prometeo e lia cenci il comune di Roma cento anni dopo la nascita del poeta sostenitore invitto di liberta popolari avversate ai suoi tempi da tutta Europa pose questo ricordo 1892

English translation:

Via del Corso 375, Rome, Italy where they was

Tra il 1819 e il 1820 in questi luoghi gia di via Valfonda Percy Bysshe Shelley lavoro al 'Prometeo Liberato' compose l'Ode al Vento occidentale

Via Valfonda, 50123, Florence, Italy where they wrote (1819-1820)

Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792-1822 regarded as one of the finest poets in the English language was born in Warnham near Horsham.

West Street, Horsham, United Kingdom where they was born near (1792)

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) Poet, Democrat, Philanthropist and Atheist lived here

Reeds Hill, Easthampstead, Bracknell, United Kingdom where they lived

Percy Bysshe Shelley [full inscription unknown]

, Rome, Italy where they stayed

Percy Bysshe Shelley durante l'estate del 1818 nel fervore di nuove creazioni d'arte cerco la quiete ospitale di questa terra e si allieto di ascenderne le fiorite pendici

English translation: Percy Bysshe Shelley during the summer of 1818 in the fervor of new art creations, looked to the hospitable quiet of this land and gladly ascended the flowery slopes

Casa Bertini, Bagni di Lucca, Italy where they stayed (1818)

Percy Bysshe Shelley Stayed here 1812-13 and completed "Queen Mab" All things are recreated.

Plas Tan-Yr-Allt Historic Country House, Tremadog, United Kingdom where they stayed (1812-1813)

The poet Shelley (1792 - 1822) and Harriet spent their honeymoon in this house in 1811.

60 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom where they stayed (1811)

The poet Shelley (1792 - 1822) and Harriet spent their honeymoon in this house in 1811.

60a George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom where they stayed (1811)