St. Irvyne

Name: St. Irvyne
Price: 20.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781419148712

✍️ Percy Bysshe Shelley

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$20.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A facsimile reprint of Percy Bysshe Shelley's early gothic novel featuring historical and supernatural themes.

This volume reproduces the original text of St. Irvyne, preserving its historical integrity through a facsimile approach. The edition includes visible signs of age such as marginalia and flaws, which contribute to its value for those studying the physical history of literature. Shelley’s work here engages with alchemical practices and the concept of immortality, reflecting Romantic interests in the supernatural. The text remains unaltered, offering a direct encounter with the author’s early narrative style. This approach benefits readers interested in the material culture of publishing rather than those seeking a clean reading experience. The book serves as a primary source for understanding Shelley’s development as a writer of horror and gothic fiction.

Key Themes

supernatural fiction gothic traditions historical alchemy

Literary Context

Published in 2004 by Kessinger Publishing, this facsimile reprint preserves the original text of Percy Bysshe Shelley's work. It highlights the cultural importance of protecting early literature through affordable modern editions that remain true to the source material.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Matthew G. Lewis · John Polidori · Horace Walpole

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Kessinger Publishing 📅 2004 📖 92 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781419148712

📝 Description: St. Irvyne

Percy Bysshe Shelley presents a gothic narrative in St. Irvyne that draws upon supernatural traditions and historical fiction. This edition reproduces the original text, preserving its place within the canon of early nineteenth-century literature. The work engages with themes of alchemy, immortality, and moral decay, reflecting the Romantic era's fascination with the macabre and the metaphysical. Shelley’s prose establishes a tone of philosophical inquiry intertwined with horror elements, appealing to readers interested in the roots of modern dark fiction. The book is a facsimile reprint published by Kessinger Publishing in 2004. It contains marks, notations, marginalia, and flawed pages due to its age, offering an authentic view of the historical artifact. This format suits collectors and scholars who value the physical presence of early printings over clean digital reproductions. Readers seeking a polished, modernized text may find the imperfections distracting. The volume stands as a direct link to Shelley’s lesser-known works, providing context for his broader literary output without alteration or editorial smoothing. This edition does not offer new commentary or analysis. It presents the text as it appeared in its original form, allowing the reader to encounter the narrative without contemporary interpretation. The inclusion of marginalia provides insight into how previous readers engaged with the material. For those studying the transmission of Shelley’s work, this facsimile offers a tangible connection to the book’s history. It is a resource for understanding the physical and textual state of early publications in the horror and gothic genres.

💎 Our verdict on St. Irvyne

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

This facsimile edition succeeds as a historical document, preserving the integrity of Shelley’s early gothic narrative without alteration. It appeals strongly to those interested in the physical history of literature and the tangible artifacts of the Romantic period. The inclusion of age-related marks and marginalia adds significant value for collectors and researchers analyzing the material aspects of publishing. However, readers seeking a clean, uninterrupted text may find the visible imperfections distracting. The work does not offer new commentary, relying instead on the raw power of the original prose. It is best suited for academic audiences or dedicated enthusiasts of dark fantasy history who appreciate the aesthetic and scholarly merit of unsmoothed historical texts over conventional readability.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This volume serves as a vital resource for scholars and collectors interested in the material culture of publishing rather than those seeking a polished, modernized reading experience. By preserving original marginalia, flaws, and notations, it offers an authentic view of the historical artifact. Readers who value the physical presence of early printings will find this direct encounter with Shelley’s narrative style particularly valuable. It provides essential context for his broader literary output without editorial smoothing or contemporary interpretation. Those studying the roots of modern dark fiction or the evolution of gothic traditions will gain insight into how Romantic-era writers explored themes of moral decay and supernatural practices through a lens of philosophical inquiry.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

This facsimile edition succeeds as a historical document, preserving the integrity of Shelley’s early gothic narrative without alteration. It appeals strongly to those interested in the physical history of literature and the tangible artifacts of the Romantic period. The inclusion of age-related marks and marginalia adds significant value for collectors and researchers analyzing the material aspects of publishing. However, readers seeking a clean, uninterrupted text may find the visible imperfections distracting. The work does not offer new commentary, relying instead on the raw power of the original prose. It is best suited for academic audiences or dedicated enthusiasts of dark fantasy history who appreciate the aesthetic and scholarly merit of unsmoothed historical texts over conventional readability.