A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays
A Defence of Poetry was written by Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1821 in answer to his friend Thomas Love Peacock, who had argued that poetry was obsolete in an age of science, and was published in 1840, long after the poet's death. Shelley replies that poetry is the expression of the imagination, the source of all civilization and morals, and that poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. This volume adds his shorter prose: the fragments On Love, On Life and On a Future State, the essay against the punishment of death, the speculations on metaphysics and morals, the unfinished essay on the literature and manners of the Athenians and the preface to his translation of Plato's Symposium. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first essay is free.
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Frequently asked questions about A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays
A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays by Percy Bysshe Shelley can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays online?
Yes. A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays in the public domain?
Yes. A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays by Percy Bysshe Shelley is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays?
About 1 h 55 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays?
A Defence of Poetry and Other Essays by Percy Bysshe Shelley is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
