 Cover, circa 1818 | |
| Author | Percy Bysshe Shelley |
|---|---|
| Original title | Laon and Cythna; or, The Revolution of the Golden City: A Vision of the Nineteenth Century |
| Language | English language |
| Genre | Poem, canto and religious |
Publication date | 1818 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
The Revolt of Islam (1818) is a poem in twelve cantos composed by Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1817.[1] The poem was originally published under the title Laon and Cythna; or, The Revolution of the Golden City: A Vision of the Nineteenth Century by Charles and James Ollier in December 1817.[citation needed] Shelley composed the work in the vicinity of Bisham Woods, near Great Marlow in Buckinghamshire, northwest of London, from April to September. The plot centres on two characters named Laon and Cythna, inhabitants of Argolis under Ottoman rule who initiate a revolution against its despotic ruler. Despite its title, the poem is not focused on Islam as a specific religion, though the general subject of religion is addressed, and the work draws on Orientalist archetypes and themes. The work is a symbolic parable on liberation and revolutionary idealism following the disillusionment of the French Revolution.
- ^ Sandy, Mark. "The Revolt of Islam". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 August 2004 accessed 24 October 2010.