WMR reconstructs Shelley's drowning

Rossetti reconstructs Shelley's drowning.

Rossetti, William M. "The Drowning of Shelley." Academy (December 4, 1875): 187. Web. 21 Sept. 2011.

Rossetti puts together multiple sources and reports regarding the drowning of Shelley in 1822. He cites his own letter that appeared in The Times that referred to a letter from Edward John Trelawny's daughter to Trelawny himself. That letter referred to a recently taken deathbed confession, which Rossetti deems credible, from a Spezia sailor who described the act of boarding Shelley's boat in a storm for the purpose of robbing Shelley. The Don Juan sank in the process and Shelley, a non-swimmer, drowned. Rossetti combines the reports from multiple sources, including Mary Shelley, Edward John Trelawny, Miss Trelawny, Leigh Hunt and Mr. Peacock.