Some might compare Percy Bysshe Shelley life to a reality tv show, a new affair everyday. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s 29 years of life were filled with scandal, tragedy, and love.
Shelley was born in Field Place, Sussex, England on August 4, 1792. His family was very well off and Shelley knew that he would one day receive that money. At the age of 10 he started to attend Syon House Academy before starting at Eton College in 1804. (Reiman, Donald) During his time at Eton he started to rebel against his parents conservative beliefs, he began to question religion and became skeptical of the British Government. Between Shelley leaving Eton and his first year at the University of Oxford he published “Zastrozzi”, his first gothic novel, “Original Poetry of Victor and Cazar”, his first collection of poetry, and a pamphlet entitled “Posthumous Fragments of Margaret Nicholson.” (Means, Richard) While going through his first year at Oxford Shelley met Thomas Jefferson Hoggs and the two became friends. Before
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In early 1812 Shelley, Harriet, and Harriet’s older sister all traveled to Lynmouth, Devon, and Northern Wales. While in England Shelley was invited to dinner by political writer William Godwin and his wife Mary Wollstonecraft. Being a fan of both Godwin and Wollstonecraft, Shelley accepted their offer. While at the dinner Shelley meets Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, William and Mary’s daughter. Shelley became engrossed with Irish politics, he traveled to Dublin, Ireland in 1812 to promote Catholic emancipation, while there he published a pamphlet urging the Irish people to rebel against the British government entitled “An address to the Irish People.” (Means, Richard) Shelley returned to England shortly after traveling to Ireland, and on June 23, 1813 Shelley and Harriet’s first child was born a daughter named Ianthe Shelley.