England's Bodleian Library[1]—the main research library at the University of Oxford[2] and one of the oldest libraries in Europe—is home to a rather unique guitar. The instrument, which is displayed alongside an eerie coffin-shaped guitar case, is linked to Frankenstein author Mary Shelley[3]—not to mention a few centuries worth of speculation and controversy.
Mary's husband, English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley[4], who helped edit Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, Mary's popular gothic novel (published in 1818), drowned just a few weeks after presenting the guitar to his muse, Mary's good friend Jane Williams[5].
Does the guitar really contain Percy Bysshe Shelley’s soul? And is it just a coincidence that he died so soon after giving it to Jane Williams, his wife's good friend?
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford[6]
When Percy gave the guitar to Jane, it was accompanied by a lengthy poem in which he supposedly places his soul into the guitar, reserving its best tone for Jane and answering only to hands of perfect skill. Jane kept the guitar for her entire life and played it often.
But does the guitar really contain Percy’s soul? And is it just a coincidence that he died so soon after giving the guitar and poem to Jane?
To be honest, if I gave that guitar/poem combo to my wife’s best friend, I probably wouldn’t live too long either. Regardless, the guitar earned a reputation for being "cursed." Its creepy coffin-shaped case adds to the mystery, along with these lines from Percy’s poem to Jane: “And now, alas! the poor sprite is / Imprisoned for some fault of his / In a body like a grave."
You can hear Percy's complete poem below: