Contents
Mary Shelley
Writing Frankenstein and its unsettling question of a creator’s responsibility.
The Last Man · Romantic literature
- Born
- 30 August 1797
- Birthplace
- London, England
- Died
- 1 February 1851
More people
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley was an English novelist whose Frankenstein placed scientific ambition within a story of abandonment and revenge. She also wrote historical fiction, travel accounts and biography, and edited her husband’s poetry.
Early life
Intellectual family
Her parents were Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin; her mother died soon after her birth.
Books and visitors
Grew up around her father’s library and intellectual circle.
Career
- 1814–1816
Travel and writing
Travelled with Percy Bysshe Shelley and began developing her own fiction.
- 1818
First novel
Published Frankenstein anonymously.
- 1823 onwards
Independent author
Returned to England after her husband’s death and supported herself through writing.
- 1830s–1840s
Editor and biographer
Prepared editions and biographical work alongside further fiction.
Selected work
Frankenstein
A scientist creates life, then abandons the being he has made.
The Last Man
Imagines a future society devastated by a global plague.
Rambles in Germany and Italy
Reflects on travel, history and politics.
Beyond work
Bereavements
Lost three children in infancy or childhood and was widowed in 1822.
Literary preservation
Edited and promoted Percy Shelley’s works while raising their surviving son.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Richard Rothwell. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.