This collection of essays focuses on Shelley"s conception of the poet"s social role and how that conception has changed over time. It examines the ways in which Shelley"s thought engages contemporary debates on feminism, class structure, political representation and human rights, and how it in turn affects radical politics in England. Also considered are the cultural and political forces within Shelley"s society and his attempts to establish a new role for the poet in its renovation.