Percy Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) was an English Romantic poet widely regarded for his profound lyrical expression and radical idealism. Born into an aristocratic family in Horsham, Sussex, Shelley was educated at Eton College and later Oxford University, where he developed his early interest in literature and radical politics. Expelled from Oxford in 1811 for co-authoring "The Necessity of Atheism," Shelley continued to challenge societal norms throughout his life.

In 1814, he eloped with Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (who would later write "Frankenstein"), and his intellectual and creative partnership with her proved profoundly influential. Shelley's major works include the visionary poem "Queen Mab," the elegy "Adonais" dedicated to John Keats, and the politically charged "The Masque of Anarchy." His poetry often explored themes of personal and political liberation, nature, and the power of the human spirit.

Despite facing considerable financial difficulties and being ostracized for his unorthodox beliefs, Shelley's works gained him posthumous acclaim. In 1822, Shelley drowned in a boating accident off the coast of Italy at just 29 years old. Today, he is celebrated as one of the greatest Romantic poets, with his imaginative and passionate verse leaving an enduring legacy in English literature.