The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley — Complete

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

4800

Title

The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley — Complete

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This comprehensive collection presents the complete poetic works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, featuring his most celebrated odes, lyrical ballads, and dramatic fragments. Edited with scholarly textual notes, this volume restores Shelley's original rhythm and vision while modernizing spelling for contemporary readability. Ideal for lovers of Romantic poetry seeking an authoritative yet accessible text of a poet who championed liberty, nature, and the transformative power of imagination.

Summary up to 500 words

This volume assembles the entirety of Percy Bysshe Shelley's poetic output, ranging from his early juvenilia to his mature masterpieces. The collection begins with the fragmentary 'Ode to Heaven' and proceeds to include the iconic 'Ode to the West Wind,' which serves as a powerful metaphor for regeneration and the spirit of change. Other major works include 'The Indian Serenade,' a tender expression of longing; 'To William Shelley,' a poignant elegy for his lost son; and 'On the Medusa of Leonardo da Vinci,' a vivid sonnet sequence exploring terror and beauty. The volume also features 'Love's Philosophy,' a poem celebrating universal connection, and various lyrical fragments that showcase Shelley's evolving style. Throughout, the editor adheres to the principle of recognizing the earliest printed editions as primary authority, correcting only those errors that obscure meaning or rhythm. Spelling has been modernized to aid the reader, while punctuation retains much of Shelley's original, often unconventional, usage to preserve his intended metrical flow. The text includes significant fragments previously unpublished or lost, such as parts of 'The Daemon of the World' and 'Prometheus Unbound,' enriching the understanding of Shelley's creative process. Themes of political justice, the sublime power of nature, the pain of loss, and the eternal quest for ideal love permeate these verses. The collection stands as a testament to Shelley's enduring influence on literature and his unwavering commitment to the poetic voice as a vehicle for social and spiritual transformation.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Poetry