Percy Bysshe Shelley

Biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Žymaus poeto Percy Bysshe Shelley biografija (anglų kalba).

"Shelley was really a most extraordinary genius, the best and least selfish man I ever knew", wrote Byron in one of his letters.
Percy Bysshe Shelley was born at Field Place in Sussex. His father, a concervative country squire, could never understand his son who was a delicate nature, very modest and sensitive. He spent his early childhood in the company of his sisters to whom he liked to tell horrible stories or pla Hell. At schol Shelley was adored by his friends for his sincerity and ability to speak with warmth and enthusiasm when discussing various problems. He did not go in for sports, which were traditional there but spent a lot of time out of doors. He would walk for hours in the country all by himself gazing at birds, trees and listening to the wind or sailed pieces of paper down the books. At Elton Shelley came across Political Justice by William Godwin. The picture of utopian society in which all oppression and injustice are abolished made a strong impression on Shelley and he imagined himself putting Godwin’s ideas into practice.
At Oxford University Shelley was chiefly interested in philosophy and natural sciences. Under the influence of French philosophers he published his pamphlet The Necessity of Atheism and was expelled from the University. When Shelley refused his father’s order to give up hi atheism he was forbidden to come back home and left for London.
In London Shelley began his activities against injustice. He wrote a poetical essay in defense of an imprisoned Irish journalist and sent copies of The Necessity of Atheism to various clergymen. Meantime he met a girl who became his faithful discipline. When he complained of being persecuted at home and at school, Shelley married her to save her for despotism. The young couple went to Ireland and then to the Wales where Shelley continued writing political and social essays. On his return to England Shelley published Queen Mab (1813), the first long poem of his. He also got acquainted personally with Godvin and soon fell in love with his beautiful doughter Mary who shared his views. The young poet realized that his first marriage was a mistake but his wife Harriet refused to divorce him. After an unsuccessful attempt to poison himself Shelley eloped with Mary to the continent in 1814 ...