Ariel by André Maurois is a captivating fictionalized biography of the brilliant and troubled poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Born into a wealthy landowning family, Shelley's early years were marred by bullying at Eton and expulsion from Oxford for publishing a controversial pamphlet. His father's anger at his son's actions caused a rift between them that was never healed. Shelley's tumultuous love life is at the center of the story. He married 16-year-old Harriet Westbrook as a means of rescuing her from a difficult home life, but their union was plagued by unhappiness and intellectual incompatibility. While still married to Harriet, Shelley fell deeply in love with Mary Godwin, the daughter of his mentor and philosopher William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. The scandal of their relationship caused public outrage and resulted in Harriet's tragic suicide. Shelley and Mary eventually married, but their troubles were far from over. They were refused custody of Shelley's children by Harriet and experienced the heartbreaking loss of several of their own children. The couple spent much of their time in Italy, where they were joined by Mary's stepsister Claire. Claire's brief affair with Lord Byron and her feelings for Shelley caused tension and jealousy between the two women. Despite the many struggles he faced, Shelley's poetic genius was not recognized during his lifetime, unlike that of his friend Lord Byron. Tragically, Shelley died at sea when his boat, the Ariel, sank. André Maurois' book provides a compelling introduction to the life and relationships of this fascinating and complex figure.