R520308A. Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley. With an Introductory Essay, by Robert Browning.
The Daily News, 8 March 1852, p. 2.
As reprinted in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 18, 396.
Some ten or twenty letters of Shelley, beginning in 1811 and the last written in 1821, have been recently obtained; and they have been, in this book, arranged and presented to the world, as a supplementary collection. In an essay, delicately written, and in a most loving spirit of poetical sympathy with Shelley, Mr. Browning says, “These new letters are not offered as presenting any new feature of the poet’s character. Regarded in themselves and as the substantive productions of a man their importance would be slight, but they possess interest beyond their limits in confirming the evidence just dwelt on of the poetical mood of Shelley being only the intensification of his habitual mood; the same tongue only speaking for want of the special excitement to sing. The very first letter, as one instance for all, strikes the key-note of the predominating sentiment of Shelley throughout his whole life—his sympathy with the oppressed.” The essay is not bounded by these particular letters: it deals with the whole career and character of Shelley; deducing inferences which even those who have a traditional distrust of the poet derived from a review of the erratic life of the man will not, at this day, be disposed to distrust. Mr. Browning’s defence is elaborately bold, but strictly logical; and regarding the works of Shelley as but fragments—continuous efforts towards the truth he would in the end have attained had longer life been granted to him, the essayist does not hesitate to write this:—“I shall say what I think: had Shelley lived, he would have finally ranged himself with the Christians. His very instinct for helping the weaker side (if numbers make strength), his very ‘hate of hate,’ which at first mistranslated itself into delirious ‘Queen Mab’ notes, and the like, would have got clearer-sighted by exercise.” The letters, in this view, are full of interest. But they are not mere metaphysical revelations. They touch upon personal adventure, and are full of references to Byron. Several of the letters are to Godwin and Horace Smith; but the majority are addressed to Mr. Graham.
Reviewed:
Introductory Essay. Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley (RB), London: Edward Moxon, 1852.
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