"A tale to make the reader dread to look around, to curdle the blood and quicken the beatings of the heart."
252: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Author of the Novel Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus
Born: 30 August 1797, London, United Kingdom
Died: 1 February 1851, London, United Kingdom
When not recognized for that she is remembered for being the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and the wife of Percy Shelley.
Her mother died twenty-one days after Mary was born from complications of the birth.
Mary published her first work at the age of eleven.
She and Percy “married” before his divorce from his first wife had officially gone through. Their first child—a daughter—was born prematurely and died after a few days. Mary next had a son.
Her half-sister and then her husband’s first wife both committed suicide in quick succession; while these events were both incredibly sad, the death of Percy’s first wife also allowed for Mary and Percy to legally be able to wed (and legitimize their children).
Mary then gave birth to another girl, but she died around a year old and then a few months later her son died as well. Her fourth and final child was born soon after, another son. Mary then suffered a miscarriage and a few weeks later her husband drowned.
Mary carried her husband’s heart around in a box for the rest of her life.
2017 saw the release of a Hollywood Biopic Entitled Mary Shelley, I’ve included the trailer to the left.
Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked
Located In My Personal Library:
History’s Naughty Bits by Karen Dolby
National Geographic History Magazine Article "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Comes to Life" (July/August 2017 Edition)
The Secret Library: A Book-Lovers' Journey Through Curiosities of History by Oliver Tearle
Uppity Women Speak Their Minds by Vicki Leon
Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die? by Tod Benoit
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft-Shelley
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1617/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley