A wide-ranging collection of the key contextual documents which inform the Romantic period. It includes material on fiercely debated areas such as the French Revolution, women, the slave trade, science and religion. Documents are supported by substantial editorial material, drawing connections to the major Romantic texts.

Shelley and Vitality reassesses Percy Shelley's engagement with early nineteenth-century science and medicine, specifically his knowledge and use of theories on the nature of life presented in the debate between surgeons John Abernethy and William Lawrence. Sharon Ruston offers new biographical information to link Shelley to a medical circle and explores the ways in which Shelley exploits the language and ideas of vitality. Major canonical works are reconsidered to address Shelley's politicised understanding of contemporary scientific discourse.