Title: Mary Shelley
Author: Catherine Reef
Type: Nonfiction
Genre: Biography
Publisher: Clarion Books (HMH Books)
Date published: September 18, 2018
A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
On the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein,comes a riveting biography of its author, Mary Shelley, whose life reads like a dark gothic novel, filled with scandal, death, drama, and one of the strangest love stories in literary history.
The story of Frankenstein’s creator is a strange, romantic, and tragic one, as deeply compelling as the novel itself. Mary ran away to Lake Geneva with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was just sixteen. It was there, during a cold and wet summer, that she first imagined her story about a mad scientist who brought a corpse back to life. Success soon followed for Mary, but also great tragedy and misfortune.
Catherine Reef brings this passionate woman, brilliant writer, and forgotten feminist into crisp focus, detailing a life that was remarkable both before and after the publication of her iconic masterpiece. Includes index.
– My Review –
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is a historical figure who has always fascinated me. I think that I had an interest in her ever since I found out that Frankenstein had been written by a woman, and that that woman was Mary Shelley. When I found out that she had connections to Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron, I was even more intrigued because those two are some of my favourite Romantic poets! In university, I learned about the cold and stormy night in Geneva when Mary, Percy, and Lord Byron decided that they would each write a scary/horror story, and that what Mary came up with ended up being the very first draft of her most famous book; Frankenstein!
It should, then, come as no surprise that when I found out that this book was coming out, I just had to get my hands on a copy. When the cover was revealed, the feeling only intensified, because I am utterly in love with it. Honestly, the cover for this book is pure perfection, and really matches the indeed “strange tale” of Mary Shelley’s life which can be found in the interior. There were so many things about Mary Shelly that I learned in this book, and I respect her all the more now! The opposite happened when it comes to Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron though. If the facts in this book are accurate, while those two men were quite talented, they also made some very selfish and irrational choices, and I’m not sure how I feel about them now.
– About the Author –
Catherine Reef is the author of more than 35 nonfiction books for young people. Her books for Clarion include the highly acclaimed JOHN STEINBECK and SIGMUND FREUD, which was the recipient of the 2002 Sydney Taylor Award, presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries. She lives in College Park, Maryland.
– Purchase Links –
THANK YOU FOR READING MY BOOK REVIEW! HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOW COME? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
I shall have to check it out; I loved Frankenstein when I read it (many) years ago.
I definitely recommend it, especially since you loved Frankenstein!
I saw this book and instantly added it to my TBR! Even though I was not a fan of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley fascinates me and I am thrilled to see you enjoyed it. It doesn’t hurt that the cover is absolutely gorgeous!
Haha then it’s the book for you (even if you didn’t like Frankenstein)! It was not my favourite plot (and I liked it for the writing only really), but Shelley’s story really is quite interesting!
She was an interesting figure, here’s a book review of Frankenstein I wrote quite recently:
https://rojaslionas.wordpress.com/2018/06/16/book-review-frankenstein-or-the-modern-prometheus/
She really was! I’m fascinated by her! And I’ll be sure to read it 😀 thank you!
I’m obsessed with your bookstagram Flavia! Your pics are gorgeous!! I love this cover and the story sounds interesting too, thanks for sharing!
Ahhhhh thank you so much for that! I have days when I almost quit bookstagram because it’s such a struggle! Thank you so much for your kind words and for reading my post!
I have the same thought too, but don’t worry you’re doing great!!
Thank you! So are you! Your insta posts are goals! For real! I make heart eyes at them all the time hahaha
Awww thank you so much Flavia! You made my day!
Thank you so much Flavia!! You made my day!!
Frankenstein is one of my all time favorite classic and this book really intrigues me. I haven’t heard much about Mary Shelley, except that her life was not an ordinary one and she had some strange events haha.
This sounds so interesting! Thanks for the great re
Thank you so much for reading and commenting! 🙂
Oops, great review I wanted to say!
(Www.evelynreads.com)
Hahaha no worries! I figured!
This sounds interesting. I don’t usually read biographies but I may have to pick this one up.
I don’t usually read them either! But this one kept me turning pages and then I was done…haha
Well it sounds really interesting. It doesn’t sound like a typical biography. 🙂
Thanks for the review! I’m always looking for new books!
No problem! Thank you for reading, and I hope that you enjoy this one if you do pick it up 🙂
[…] – My Review – […]