Description
Book SynopsisShelley has long been viewed as a dreamer isolated from reality, a beautiful and ineffectual angel, in Arnold's words. In contrast, Sperry's book emphasizes the life forces originating in the poet's childhood that impelled and shaped his career, and reasserts Shelley's relevance to the social and cultural dilemmas of contemporary life.
Trade ReviewTo trace the life force of his poetry and its transformation and efflorescence in the course of his development, Sperry has taken Shelley’s eight major poetic works—
Queen Mab,
Alastor,
The Revolt of Islam,
Prometheus Unbound Acts I–IV,
The Cenci,
The Witch of Atlas,
Epipsychidion, and
The Triumph of Love—and examined them chronologically within the context of the poet’s life. Supported by impeccable scholarship, Sperry’s incisive analyses illuminate for modern readers not only Shelley the poet but Shelley the man. -- Sharon Wong * Library Journal *
One of the finest books on Shelley to appear in recent years. Its special strength lies in its elucidation of Shelley’s extreme idealism. Sperry finds in the major poetry life-values that are not only defensible but even prophetic for both individuals and societies. -- Donald H. Reiman
Table of ContentsPreface 1. Our Proper Destiny: Queen Mab 2. Broodings in Solitude: Alastor 3. The Triumph of Love: The Revolt of Islam 4. The Human Situation: Prometheus Unbound, Act I 5. Hope and Necessity: Prometheus Unbound, Act II 6. The Transforming Harmony: Prometheus Unbound, Acts III and IV 7. Sad Reality: The Cenci 8. Romantic Irony: The Witch of Atlas 9. Love's Universe: Epipsychidion 10. Tragic Irony: The Triumph of Lift Notes Index
