Even in his own day, Shelley's value as a poet and a thinker was hotly debated. This book argues that Shelley was both ahead of and in tune with his time and ours. Featuring close readings of the key texts, the book includes a reassessment of a previously undervalued work. Contributions from leading academics such as Marilyn Butler, Stuart Curran and Donald Reiman, mix with new ideas from up and coming scholars to expand our knowledge and understanding of this problematic poet.