Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley was a remarkable English Romantic poet, born on August 4, 1792, in Sussex, England. Known for his revolutionary ideas and lyrical prowess, Shelley’s work often explored themes of nature, love, and the quest for personal and political freedom. He was a passionate advocate for social change, and his poetic voice resonated with a deep sense of empathy and idealism. Some of his most celebrated works include "Ozymandias," a meditation on the transience of power, and "Prometheus Unbound," a lyrical drama that embodies his vision of human liberation and the struggle against tyranny.

Despite his relatively short life—he died at just 29 in 1822—Shelley's influence on literature and philosophy has been profound, inspiring countless writers and thinkers. His innovative use of language and imagery invites readers to reflect on the beauty and complexity of the human experience. If you're intrigued by themes of passion, nature, and the pursuit of truth, we invite you to explore Shelley’s works in the app. Each poem and prose piece offers a glimpse into the mind of a poet who dared to dream of a better world.

Shelley: Selected Poems and Prose

Read by Leonard Wilson (1930-2024)


Percy Bysshe Shelley



The English Romantic Period in literature featured a towering group of excellent poets: Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley and Keats. If …

The Masque of Anarchy

Read by Phil Benson


Percy Bysshe Shelley



The Masque of Anarchy was Shelley's response to the Peterloo massacre at St Peter's Fields, Manchester, where 18 died and hundreds were inju…

Ozymandias of Egypt

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you sixteen different recordings of Ozymandias of Egypt, by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This was the weekly poetry proje…

Zastrozzi, A Romance

Read by Martin Geeson


Percy Bysshe Shelley



“Would Julia of Strobazzo’s heart was reeking on my dagger!”From the asthmatic urgency of its opening abduction scene to the Satanic defianc…

History of a Six Weeks' Tour

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



Full titled History of a Six Weeks' Tour through a part of France, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland; with Letters Descriptive of a Sail Rou…

Music, when soft voices die

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you 17 different recordings of Music, when soft voices die by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This was the weekly poetry pro…

To A Skylark

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you eight recordings of "To A Skylark." This is the Fortnightly Poetry for August 8, 2014.To A Skylark w…

Lines: We Meet Not As We Parted

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you 15 recordings of Lines: "We Meet Not As We Parted," by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This was the Weekly Poe…

Queen Mab

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



Queen Mab is the first major poetic work by Percy Bysshe Shelley and serves as a foundation to his theory of revolution. It depicts a two-pr…

Sister Rosa: A Ballad

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you 7 different recordings of Sister Rosa: A Ballad by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

The Indian Serenade

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you 15 recordings of The Indian Serenade, by Percy Bysshe Shelley.This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for Sep…

Lines

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you 14 recordings of Lines by Percy Bysshe Shelley. This was the Weekly Poetry project for December 13th, 2009.

The Cenci

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



Written in 1819, but not first staged for over hundred years after it was written due to controversial themes of incest and parricide, it wa…

Fragment: To The Mind Of Man

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you 17 recordings of Fragment: To The Mind Of Man by Percy Bysshe Shelley.This was the Weekly Poetry project for F…

Dirge for the Year

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets, and is regarded by some as among the finest lyric, as well as epic, poets …

To Ireland

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you 12 recordings of To Ireland by Percy Bysshe Shelley.This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for May 12, 2025. …

Autumn: A Dirge

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Percy Bysshe Shelley



LibriVox volunteers bring you 15 recordings of Autumn: A Dirge by Percy Bysshe Shelley.This was the Fortnightly Poetry project for November …