Book details
The Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Volume 1 (of 2)
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Metadata
- Gutenberg ID
- 37955
- Title
- The Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Volume 1 (of 2)
- Language
- en
- Book source
- Project Gutenberg
- Description max 80 words
-
Compiled from original journals and letters entrusted to Mrs. Julian Marshall, this biography chronicles the life of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. It details her early years with William Godwin, her turbulent relationship with Percy Bysshe Shelley, their travels across Europe, and the tragic loss of their children. The text offers an intimate, factual look at the domestic struggles, literary achievements, and personal tragedies that defined the life of the author of 'Frankenstein.'
- Summary up to 500 words
-
Mrs. Julian Marshall's biography of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, drawn from the family's private manuscripts and correspondence, offers an intimate portrait of the author's tumultuous life. The narrative begins with Mary's birth in 1797 into the unconventional household of philosopher William Godwin and radical writer Mary Wollstonecraft. It chronicles her intellectual awakening and eventual romance with Percy Bysshe Shelley, culminating in their marriage in 1814. Their union was defined by a fierce intellectual partnership but plagued by financial instability, social ostracization, and the tragic deaths of their first two children. The text details the couple's extensive travels through France and Switzerland, where they wrote *Frankenstein* and *The Last Man*, before settling in Italy. There, they faced scandal, the death of their daughter Clara, and the mysterious drowning of Percy in 1822. Marshall explores the complex domestic dynamics, including the presence of Jane Clairmont and the financial demands of Mary's father, William Godwin. Through excerpts from Mary's journals and letters, the work provides a poignant account of her profound grief, her remarkable resilience, and her enduring literary legacy. The biography concludes with the tragic end of her husband and the continued struggles of the surviving family members, preserving the authentic voice of a woman who lived on the fringes of society yet left an indelible mark on literature.
- LLM editorial rating
- 4.2/5
- Download URL
- https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37955.epub.noimages
- Local file path
-
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People
Authors
- Mrs. Julian Marshall
Classification
Categories
- Classics
- Biography
- Women and Literature