Zastrozzi and St. Irvyne: Two Gothic Novels

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Zastrozzi was written by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) at age of 17 during his last year at Eton, and it was published in 1810 when he was at Oxford. In the first edition, he was identified on the title page only by his initials. In St. Irvyne, published shortly afterward, he was identified as "A Gentleman of the University of Oxford."
Both novels are of interest today as early artifacts of the age of the Gothic horror novel—the era that not long afterwards produced the magnificent Frankenstein by Shelley's wife Mary. A brief but complex tale of romance and revenge, Zastrozzi  —like its companion, St. Irvyne — was praised by some critics and derided by others. Both stories manifest the creative flair of their young author, who went on to become one of the greatest poets in the English language during his short life.

Genres: Gothic, Classics, Literature, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1810

About the author

Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, British romantic poet, include "To a Skylark" in 1820; Prometheus Unbound , the lyric drama; and "Adonais," an elegy of 1821 to John Keats.

The Cenci , work of art or literature of Percy Bysshe Shelley of 1819, depicts Beatrice Cenci, Italian noblewoman.

People widely consider Percy Bysshe Shelley among the finest majors of the English language. He is perhaps most famous for such anthology pieces as Ozymandias , Ode to the West Wind , and The Masque of Anarchy . His major long visionary Alastor , The Revolt of Islam , and the unfinished The Triumph of Life .

Unconventional life and uncompromising idealism of Percy Bysshe Shelley combined with his strong skeptical voice to make an authoritative and much denigrated figure during his life. He became the idol of the next two or three generations, the major Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite Robert Browning, Alfred Tennyson, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Algernon Charles Swinburne, as well as William Butler Yeats and in other languages, such as Jibanananda Das and Subramanya Bharathy . Karl Marx, Henry Stephens Salt, and [authorm:Bertrand Russell] also admired him. Famous for his association with his contemporaries Lord Byron, he also married Mary Shelley, novelist.

Reviews

[Sarah Mac]

PRE-READING:

*squeeee* Thank you, Dover, for reissuing Shelley’s little gothics. I’ve wanted to read these for years, but was put off by the pricey, battered OOP paperbacks. Now I can sit back & anticipate the mayhem with a clear conscience. *rubs hands* 😈🖤

[Kezia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two novellas put Shelley, then 18 years old, to the test. The finer of the pair, St. Irvyne, is unfinished save two brief paragraphs he appended for his publisher. Zastrozzi has an ending but also feels unfinished.

The same themes run through both Gothic romances - male loners who are abandoned by the world, fair maidens who are exploited, shadowy figures with mysterious motives persecuting them. Castles, barren landscapes, walls of granite, potions with poisons, suicidal tendencies, etc.

Clearly Shelley had far to go as a writer, and the novel was not his strong suit.

[Tonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, average rating. I'm reading this sheerly because I am curious about Shelley's early writing. Fascinating to think he wrote these at such a young age. This book is 'of the time,' i.e. tropes, themes, but I'm curious to see what he does with the form, if anything.

[Signor Mambrino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Zastrozzi. Such a great story and character. St. Irvyne was a little disappointing. I wrote a longer review on my site if you're interested.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

zastrozzi was far better than st. irvyne.

[Matt JL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave it five stars on the strength of zastrozzi. 19th century gothic literature at its finest. St. Irvyne was just fine. lost me here and there.