Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) was one of the major English authors active during the Romantic period, and is regarded as one of the greatest philosophical poets in the English language. Shelley formed a close-knit friendship with many other famous writers of his time, including his wife, Mary Shelley, John Keats, and Lord Byron. Radical in both his writing and political views, Shelley was often bullied, as he refused to conform to tradition. Though he did not obtain much fame during his lifetime, Shelley's legacy of masterful writing inspired generations of prominent authors, and has earned him acclaim as one of the greatest Romantic poets of the era.