Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) fue, junto con Coleridge, Wordsworth, Keats y Byron, uno de los cinco grandes autores del romanticismo inglés. Perteneciente a la segunda generación del movimiento, busco, en la estela de Coleridge, una poesia que explotase al maximo el poder simbolico de la imaginacion, abogando por el lenguaje sonoro y de gran fuerza literaria que situo algunas de sus composiciones entre los clasicos indiscutibles de la poesia europea. El "Prometeo liberado" (junto con "Adonais", la hermosisima elegia dedicada en su muerte a su rival estetico, John Keats) supuso la mas alta creacion simbolica de Shelley. Escrito ante las ruinas romanas de Caracalla en 1819, se trata de un poema dramatico dividido en cuatro actos, y constituye un alegato alegorico en favor de la libertad, que era para el poeta el principal valor del mundo y los seres humanos.

Es habitual referirse a Zastrozzi como un pastiche. El joven Shelley, todavía un estudiante, toma elementos de autores clásicos del gótico para formar una novela que, seguida años después por el Frankenstein de su esposa Mary, daria nuevos brios a un genero que, como indica Silvia Broome en la introduccion, tanto encaja con su temperamento y su vida. Percy B. Shelley supone un paradigma de poeta romantico. Rebelde, idealista, apasionado hasta el extremo y con los clasicos griegos y romanos siempre como referencia. Ingreso en la historia de la literatura como poeta, inevitablemente asociado a su gran amigo Lord Byron, pero escribio tambien novelas como la que presentamos y una variedad de textos de toda indole.Zastrozzi inicia una senda bañando el gotico tradicional en romanticismo temprano sin perder su esencia original. Sumergirse en ella es viajar al pasado neblinoso y arrebatado a lomos de los sentimientos humanos mas universales, como el amor y la venganza.

A pesar de la enorme importancia de la obra poetica de Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), a quien Lord Byron definió como "el mejor y el menos egoísta de los hombres", no hay una gran antología de su obra traducida al español. El poeta, ensayista y traductor Jose Luis Rey, que ya se ha encargado de trasladar al español las poesias completas de Emily Dickinson y T. S. Eliot, asi como Harmoiun, una de las grandes obras de Wallace Stevens, ha traducido la antologia mas completa de Shelley hasta el momento en español, titulada "Donde estan los eternos". En ella se puede rastrear al Shelley idealista y plenamente convenbcido de la capacidad visionaria y liberadora de la Poesia. Suya es la frase celebre: "Los poetas son los legisladores no reconocidos del mundo".

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY, el gran poeta inglés,nació en 1792 en Field-Place en las cercanías de Horsham (Sussex) y murió en Italia, en julio de 1822, un día de tormenta que se embarcó en su barco a vela Ariel, rumbo a Lerici, y, sorprendido por la borrasca, aparecio su cadaver en la playa de Vigreggio. Alli, en el pinar, se quemo a su cadaver, rescatandose su corazon que fue enviado a su mujer, Mary Shelley. El Adonais, es una obra perfecta donde los caracteres fundamentales de la poesia de Shelley estan presentes. Debemos repetir esto: si Shelley es uno de los mayores poetas de todos los tiempos, tal vez el primero de los romanticos, no es, en primer termino, por su maravillosa forma expresiva ni por su mundo de ideas, sino por su espiritu. Espiritu inexplicable, como el de todo gran poeta. Y su grandeza esta en su misterio. Imposibilidad de una explicacion que, por otra parte, no importa. El espiritu no requiere ser explicado. Es una fuerza con la que la sensibilidad comulga en la evidencia del extasis, en la seguridad inalienable de la Belleza. Y la autentica Poesia no pide otra cosa, ni puede ofrecer mas que la certidumbre de su prodigio. Misterio, delgadez, espiritu. Reino invisible y divina luz de la verdadera Poesia. J. SILES

What is love? Ask him who lives, what is life? ask him who adores, what is God?I know not the internal constitution of other men, nor even thine, whom I now address. I see that in some external attributes they resemble me, but when, misled by that appearance, I have thought to appeal to something in common, and unburthen my inmost soul to them, I have found my language misunderstood, like one in a distant and savage land. The more opportunities they have afforded me for experience, the wider has appeared the interval between us, and to a greater distance have the points of sympathy been withdrawn. With a spirit ill fitted to sustain such proof, trembling and feeble through its tenderness, I have everywhere sought sympathy and have found only repulse and disappointment.

For nearly two months after the death of Keats, 23 February, 1821, Shelley appears to have remained in ignorance of the event: he knew it on or before 19 April. The precise date when he began his Elegy does not seem to be recorded: one may suppose it to have been in the latter half of May. On 5 June he wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Gisborne: I have been engaged these last days in composing a poem on the death of Keats, which will shortly be finished; and I anticipate the pleasure of reading it to you, as some of the very few persons who will be interested in it and understand it. It is a highly wrought piece of art, and perhaps better, in point of composition, than anything I have written.

In "Adonais," Percy Bysshe Shelley crafts a poignant elegy that mourns the untimely death of his contemporary John Keats. This lyrical masterpiece is structured as a pastoral elegy, infused with profound philosophical reflections on mortality, art, and the transient nature of beauty. Shelleys rich, evocative imagery and masterful use of blank verse create an almost musical quality that resonates with the emotional depth of grief and reverence. The work is situated within the Romantic literary context, characterized by themes of individualism, emotion, and a reverence for nature, as well as the broader interplay of life and death that permeates the movements discourse. Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), an ardent advocate of radical thought and social justice, found his voice amid the political turbulence of early 19th-century England. His connections with Keats and other Romantics, and his own tragic experiences with loss, profoundly influenced "Adonais." ShelleyAos reflections on temporary existence and the enduring legacy of artistic creativity were not only personal but also a wider commentary on the vulnerability of the human spirit. "Adonais" is an essential read for anyone interested in the interplay between grief and beauty, and the quest for meaning in art. Shelleys exquisite language and depth of insight invite readers to contemplate their own experiences of loss, rendering it a timeless piece that resonates across generations.

A major new anthology of Percy Bysshe Shelley's work, edited by Jack Donovan and Cian Duffy. 'My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!' Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the leading English Romantics and is critically regarded among the finest lyric poets in the English language. His major works include the long visionary poems 'Prometheus Unbound' and 'Adonais', an elegy on the death of John Keats. His shorter, classic verses include 'To a Skylark', 'Mont Blanc' and 'Ode to the West Wind'. This important new edition collects his best poetry and prose, revealing how his writings weave together the political, personal, visionary and idealistic. This Penguin Classics edition includes a fascinating introduction, notes and other materials by leading Shelley scholars, Jack Donovan and Cian Duffy.

La sensitiva (The Sensitive Plant) e un dolcissimo poemetto in quartine di versi a rima baciata, composto in Italia nel 1820 dal poeta romantico inglese Percy Bysshe Shelley. La pianta sensitiva e una specie particolare di sempreverde, che reagisce allo sfioramento delle foglie richiudendosi immediatamente su se stessa per poi tornare ad aprirsi nel giro di pochi minuti. Nel poemetto (anche musicato da Ottorino Respighi) si afferma la permanenza della bellezza di fronte alla caducita della vita. Questo libro ne offre una piu fruibile e altrettanto delicata versione in prosa, con fedele traduzione di Eugenio G. Maritano.

Murió Adonais y por su muerte lloro. Llorad por Adonais, aunque las lágrimas no deshagan la escarcha que les cubre. Y tú, su hora fatal, la que, entre todas, fuiste elegida para nuestro daño, despierta a tus oscuras compañeras, muestrales tu tristeza y di: conmigo murio Adonais, y en tanto que el futuro a olvidar al pasado no se atreva, perduraran su fama y su destino como una luz y un eco eternamente.

"Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a grotesque, sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Frankenstein is infused with elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement. At the same time, it is an early example of science fiction. It has had a considerable influence in literature and popular culture and spawned a complete genre of horror stories, films and plays."St. Irvyne; or, The Rosicrucian" is a Gothic horror novel which retells the destiny of Wolfstein, a solitary wanderer and a disillusioned outcast from society who seeks to kill himself. After he is saved by the monks, he encounters Ginotti, an alchemist of the Rosicrucian, or Rose Cross Order who seeks to impart the secret of immortality.

St. Irvyne; or, The Rosicrucian retells the destiny of Wolfstein, a solitary wanderer and a disillusioned outcast from society who seeks to kill himself. After he is saved by the monks, he encounters Ginotti, an alchemist of the Rosicrucian, or Rose Cross Order who seeks to impart the secret of immortality.

Zastrozzi, a riveting tale of gothic horror, showcases Percy Bysshe ShelleyAos exploration of the darker facets of human nature and the struggle between passion and reason. Written in the early 19th century, this novella combines psychological depth with atmospheric tension, illustrating the dynamics of vengeance and desire. Shelley employs a haunting and lyrical prose style, interweaving elements of the sublime with a profound understanding of existential despair, which reflects the Romantic periodAos fascination with the supernatural and the macabre. The narrative delves into the psyche of its protagonists, weaving intricate character studies against a backdrop of Gothic landscapes. Percy Bysshe Shelley, a pivotal figure in the Romantic movement, was an ardent advocate for social change and individual freedom. His tumultuous life, marked by personal loss and political upheaval, deeply influenced his literary output. ShelleyAos experiences with tragedy, including the death of loved ones, resonate through Zastrozzi, which can be seen as his meditation on the destructive nature of obsession and revenge, grappling with themes that haunted him personally and culturally. Zastrozzi is a must-read for enthusiasts of gothic literature and those interested in the psychological undercurrents of the human experience. This novella not only highlights ShelleyAos prowess as a writer but also serves as a poignant reminder of the tumultuous emotions that can drive individuals to the brink. Readers seeking a nuanced and chilling exploration of the darker sides of humanity will find in Zastrozzi a compelling and thought-provoking experience.

In Shelleys Gothic Classics: Frankenstein & St. Irvyne, the coupling of Mary Shelleys iconic Frankenstein with Percy Bysshe Shelleys lesser-known St. Irvyne illuminates the rich tapestry of early 19th-century Gothic literature. This collection not only explores themes of human overreach and the supernatural but also showcases the stylistic diversity within the Gothic genre itself. The anthology is a profound exploration of existential angst and the darker recesses of the human psyche, providing a panoramic view of the genres evolution and its reflection on human vulnerability and fear. The Shelleys, integral figures in the Romantic movement, bring together a confluence of revolutionary ideas and sublime artistry, situated against a backdrop of political and social upheaval. Mary Shelleys narrative inventiveness and Percy Bysshe Shelleys lyrical prowess make this collection a cornerstone for understanding the Romantic engagement with horror, awe, and the sublime. Their works are emblematic of a period that challenged Enlightenment rationalism with a deep dive into the emotional and often irrational human experience. Shelleys Gothic Classics offers readers a rare glimpse into the melding of two literary minds intertwined by personal and intellectual bonds. It is an essential volume for scholars and enthusiasts of the Gothic and Romantic traditions, promising not only a reflection on bygone eras but also a resonant dialogue with contemporary themes. The collection is a scholarly and emotional journey, ideal for those seeking to comprehend the breadth of Gothic literature and its enduring appeal.

Percy Bysshe Shelleys Zastrozzi is a gripping and dark tale that is considered one of the early examples of gothic horror literature. The book follows the vengeful protagonist Zastrozzi as he seeks revenge against the man who wronged him, leading to a series of violent and tragic events. Shelleys writing style in Zastrozzi is characterized by its melodramatic and intense language, drawing readers into a world of passion and despair. The novels exploration of themes such as obsession, power, and morality make it a compelling and thought-provoking read, with elements of the supernatural adding to its eerie atmosphere. Set against the backdrop of the Romantic era, Zastrozzi reflects the gothic literary trends of the time, offering a blend of thrilling drama and philosophical introspection.

Percy Bysshe Shelleys gothic novel, St. Irvyne, is a captivating tale that delves into themes of betrayal, vengeance, and the supernatural. Written in the early 19th century, Shelley showcases his mastery of the Romantic literary style through vivid descriptions of eerie landscapes and dark characters. The novels atmospheric tone and suspenseful plot draw readers into a world where the boundaries between good and evil blur, leaving them questioning the nature of humanity and the consequences of unchecked ambition. St. Irvyne stands out as a precursor to the horror genre, influencing later works by authors such as Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe. The novel can be seen as a reflection of Shelleys own tumultuous life and his preoccupation with the darker aspects of human existence, making it a must-read for fans of Gothic literature and Romanticism.