&quot;Nightmare Abbey&quot;, like &quot;Frankenstein&quot;, appeared in 1818. Strangely, it was also inspired by Shelley, who was friends with Peacock. His satire, however, was lighthearted and whimsical and a kind of in-joke. There&#39;s no way of knowing if Peacock had actually read Mary Shelley&#39;s novel, but &quot;Nightmare Abbey&quot; makes a nice counterpoint, and speaks of the importance of a new audience.<br /><br />In Peacock&acute;s best-known work, &quot;Nightmare Abbey&quot;, romantic melancholy is satirised. The novel &nbsp;is set in a former abbey whose owner, Christopher Glowry, is host to visitors who enjoy his hospitality and engage in endless debate. Among these guests are figures recognisable to Peacock&#39;s contemporaries, including characters based on Lord Byron and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Mr. Glowry&#39;s son Scythrop (also modelled on a famous Romantic, Peacock&#39;s friend Percy Bysshe Shelley) locks himself up in a tower where he reads German tragedies and transcendental philosophy and develops a &quot;passion for reforming the world.&quot; Disappointed in love, a sorrowful Scythrop decides the only thing to do is to commit suicide, but circumstances persuade him to instead follow his father in a love of misanthropy and Madeira. In addition to satire and comic romance, &quot;Nightmare Abbey&quot; presents a biting critique of the texts we view as central to British romanticism.<br /><br />The great pleasure of &quot;Nightmare Abbey&quot;, lies in the delight the author takes in poking fun at the romantic movement.