Shelley and Vitality

Shelley and Vitality PDF

Author: S. Ruston

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2005-04-08

Total Pages: 231

ISBN-13: 023050518X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Shelley and Vitality reassesses Percy Shelley's engagement with early nineteenth-century science and medicine, specifically his knowledge and use of theories on the nature of life presented in the debate between surgeons John Abernethy and William Lawrence. Sharon Ruston offers new biographical information to link Shelley to a medical circle and explores the ways in which Shelley exploits the language and ideas of vitality. Major canonical works are reconsidered to address Shelley's politicised understanding of contemporary scientific discourse.