Percy Bysshe Shelley (PUR-see SHEL-ee)

Poet

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on August 4, 1792, in Horsham, Sussex, England, into a well-off and politically connected family. From an early age, Shelley showed signs of his rebellious nature and nonconformist ideals. He attended Eton College and later Oxford University, where he published The Necessity of Atheism, a controversial pamphlet that led to his expulsion from Oxford. Shelley's political radicalism, atheism, and belief in free love would shape much of his work and put him at odds with society throughout his life.
In 1811, Shelley eloped with Harriet Westbrook, a move that estranged him from his family. However, his relationship with Harriet soon deteriorated, and in 1814, he met and fell in love with Mary Godwin, daughter of the famed writer Mary Wollstonecraft. The couple fled to Europe, living a life of travel, intellectual engagement, and literary creation. They married in 1816 after Harriet's tragic death, and it was during this period that Shelley composed some of his greatest works, including Ozymandias, Ode to the West Wind, and Prometheus Unbound.
Shelley’s poetry is marked by its passionate embrace of nature, imagination, and revolutionary ideals. His atheism and advocacy for social and political change made him a controversial figure during his lifetime. Shelley believed in the potential for humanity to transcend its flaws through reason and love, a belief that is evident in his poetic works. His personal life, filled with tragedy, betrayal, and loss, also shaped his literary output.
In 1822, at the age of 29, Shelley tragically drowned in a boating accident in the Gulf of La Spezia, Italy, while sailing during a storm. His body was washed ashore and later cremated on the beach, an event that became part of the myth surrounding his short but influential life. His widow, Mary Shelley, preserved his legacy, editing and publishing his works after his death.
Though Shelley was largely unrecognized during his lifetime, his work has since gained him a place among the great Romantic poets. His visionary writings on freedom, love, and the human condition continue to resonate with readers and have secured his place as one of the most significant voices in English literature.

---

Photo Album

Mental characteristics

Sexuality

Percy Bysshe Shelley's sexuality is a complex and debated topic, with some scholars suggesting a fluidity between his relationships with men and women, while others focus on his unconventional views on love and relationships rather than a specific sexual orientation.

This is character was
Inspired by a real or literary person

Species

Duine

Realm

The Mortal Realm

Date of Birth

August 4, 1792 CE

Date of Death

July 8, 1822 CE

Life

1792 CE 1822 CE 30 years old

Circumstances of Death

Shelley drowned in a sudden storm while sailing in his boat, the Don Juan, off the coast of Italy. His body washed ashore a few days later, and he was cremated on the beach in accordance with Italian law.

Birthplace

Horsham, Sussex, England

Place of Death

Gulf of La Spezia, Italy

Sex

Male

Sexuality

Heteroflexible