10 facts you didn’t know about Mary Shelley!

If you’re on my blog, I suspect that you may know a thing or two about Gothic literature, or even more so, about Mary Shelley – aka, the Gothic QUEEN! So, I understand if you know some of these facts already, however, there may be a few things that might surprise you about her!

1. Nobody knew for 5 years That Mary wrote Frankenstein

It’s true! Not until 5 years after Frankenstein was published did Mary put her name to it! Some even thought it was her husband Percy Shelley, who wrote it, even though originally it was published anonymously.

2. Mary became a widow aged 24

Percy died in 1822, making the queen of Gothic without her king. She did have his heart calcified though and kept it in a silk purse… romantic, or just gross?

3. The Last Man, published in 1826, is about a post-apocalyptic world where people die due to a global plague

I really enjoyed this book and thought it was way ahead of it’s time! Definitely worth a read! It’s sad that not more people know about her other novels! Mind you, she is the creator of Frankenstein… one of the most epic books ever!

4. Frankenstein’s monster is actually called… Adam

There are many names given to Frankenstein’s monster, even Frankenstein (which is actually the Dr’s name – honest mistake if you’ve only heard of the book and not read it!) but it can be argued that the monster is actually called Adam:

“Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good – misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.” – Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818

Open to interpretation, but I think it fits.

5. Frankenstein was only written because of Lord Byron

Lord Byron (swooooon) allegedly challenged Mary Shelley to write a spooky story, and so Frankenstein was born! Just another reason to Love Lord Byron…

6. Frankenstein was slated by critics

Originally, critics hated Frankenstein… can you believe it?! Luckily, Gothic fiction was on the rise and after a false start, and an adapted play, it flew off the shelves!

7. Mary Shelley also wrote children’s books

Yup. The author of one of the most horrifying and morally disturbing novels ever also wrote children’s books. Her titles include, Proserpine (1820), Midas (1820), (of which she wrote with her husband Percy) and Maurice (or The Fisher’s Cot) which was only discovered in 1997!

8. Mary lost her virginity on her mother’s grave

This is more a rumour than a fact, but some say this is true! I mean, what else would we expect from the queen of Gothic? Also, eww.

9. …Speaking of her mother, Mary’s mother was Mary Wollstonecraft 

Yes, one of the most infamous writers of the 19th Century also had one of the most infamous mothers. Activist, writer, philosopher – Mary sure had quite the inspirational upbringing!

10. Mary’s father may have committed murder on her behalf

When Mary began her relationship with Percy, her father, William Godwin, did not approve of them and disowned her, mostly because Percy was already married. However, once wife No. 1 died, all was well again. Coincidental? Perhaps, but then again, forensics weren’t great back then so it could in fact be plausible.

 

I hope you have enjoyed these 10 facts about Mary Shelley! I personally think she was an amazingly talented writer, who lived a horrifically tragic life, gone too soon. I wonder what she would have written next?

Stay scary!

The Gothic Bookworm

Feature image: Wikipedia