# Percy Shelley

## Biography

Percy Bysshe Shelley was a prominent English Romantic poet, born in Sussex, England, on August 4, 1792. Known for his radical political and social views, his work often challenged societal norms and was not fully appreciated during his lifetime, gaining significant recognition posthumously. He was expelled from Oxford University for co-authoring a pamphlet titled "The Necessity of Atheism." Shelley's life was marked by unconventional relationships; he first eloped with Harriet Westbrook, and later, with Mary Godwin, who would become the celebrated author Mary Shelley. In 1818, he went into permanent self-exile in Italy, where he produced some of his most acclaimed poetry, including "Ode to the West Wind" and "Prometheus Unbound." A visionary and influential figure, Shelley's life was cut short when he drowned in a boating accident in Italy in 1822, just shy of his thirtieth birthday. His poetic legacy profoundly influenced subsequent generations of writers.

## Books

- [A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays](https://samolit.com/books/96731)