maurak's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction and I didn’t know much about Mary Shelley, and I found this very interesting. On the whole it was a good read, some of it was non-chronological in a way that I thought would be good but was actually quite annoying? But very well-written. A good read.
n_nazir's review against another edition
2.0
This was such a disappointing biography. By all accounts, Mary Shelley should be a fascinating subject, from her familial connections, to her marriage, to her literary feats and to her social circle. The book somehow manages to dull all of this. The pacing is odd, the last two chapters seem to have been written with the deadline fast approaching, they cram in the 17 odd years following her husband’s death, throwing in things such as Shelley possibly being bisexual and a casual reference to an Oedipal relationship with her son. Ok then.
lokster71's review against another edition
3.0
I found this a fascinating read which only increases ones admiration for Mary Shelley who managed to write one of the great works of literature whilst coping with regular pregnancy, the death of her children, her father's failure to live up to his beliefs, her husband's - and this has to be said - grade A arseholery.
Indeed, if this book is about anything it is about a woman's ability to get things done in the face of a series of horrible men. I mean, when Byron comes out of the book looking like the best man she knew, apart from Percy, her son (perhaps) something is wrong somewhere. And that somewhere is mainly men. Not only men. Her sister-in-law Claire is something of a major league horror show as well.
Sampson does a fine job of telling the stories and trying to get to what made Mary tick, which I think is an attempt to live up to her mother's achievements and ideals (and her father's too, even if he was unwilling to do so himself.)
If you want to see how someone rises - sometimes with difficulty - above a difficult life then read this book.
Indeed, if this book is about anything it is about a woman's ability to get things done in the face of a series of horrible men. I mean, when Byron comes out of the book looking like the best man she knew, apart from Percy, her son (perhaps) something is wrong somewhere. And that somewhere is mainly men. Not only men. Her sister-in-law Claire is something of a major league horror show as well.
Sampson does a fine job of telling the stories and trying to get to what made Mary tick, which I think is an attempt to live up to her mother's achievements and ideals (and her father's too, even if he was unwilling to do so himself.)
If you want to see how someone rises - sometimes with difficulty - above a difficult life then read this book.
juliwi's review against another edition
3.0
I knew of Frankenstein long before I actually read it. Like many others, I think, I had absorbed the story of the monster, of science gone wrong, through popular culture from an early age on. Frankenstein is a cultural staple, and yet it wasn't until university that I truly started appreciating the woman behind it, the girl, even, who created this cultural phenomenon. It is now 200 years since the novel's publication and interest in the novel and author are reawakening. In Search of Mary Shelley is part of that reawakening so of course I had to read it. Thanks to Serpent's Tail for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Reading Frankenstein at university was what first brought Mary Shelley to the forefront of my mind. The novel is a masterpiece, carefully and intricately crafted, full of thoughts on human nature and tempestuous feelings of self. And this came from the mind of a nineteen-year old girl, recently eloped with a Romantic poet and the child of two philosophical heavyweights. I immediately adored her. One can't help but be fascinated by those who create masterpieces like Frankenstein. It is why Jane Austen has so many adoring followers, we readers want to get to know those whose writing touched us so deeply. For a long time Mary Shelley was very much hidden in the large shadow cast by her acquaintances, but renewed interest in her has allowed a large field of Mary-centred research to flower. In Search of Mary Shelley is a part of that, a book that tries to paint a picture of who this girl was, what kind of woman she became, and why.
Since my introduction to Mary Shelley started at university, I am used to reading about her in a certain, "academic" way. In Search of Mary Shelley is a refreshing break from that, with Sampson writing very casually and directly. She avoids academic lingo and doesn't really quote from any research into Mary. Rather, Sampson attempts to sketch a portrait of who Mary Shelley could have been based on details in her books, letters and journals, as far as those are available, as well as what is known of the time period. Because of the book's lack of references, it occasionally felt to me as if too much of it could be made up. The picture Sampson creates isn't necessarily a factual one, but very much a potential one. Perhaps Mary did feel this way, maybe that letter does reference an awareness of a larger cultural event, or possibly none of it is true. Although I enjoyed reading In Search of Mary Shelley I have been too spoiled by my time at university and felt the lack of supporting material for Sampson's claims. However, for someone wanting to get a sense of what Mary's inner life could have been like and what an asshole Percy Shelley at times was, In Search of Mary Shelley is an excellent starting point!
In Search of Mary Shelley offers a fascinating insight into who Mary Shelley could have been. Although Sampson doesn't quote much from academic research and allows herself some artistic freedom, it is a worthwhile read for those who want to get a sense of Mary.
Reading Frankenstein at university was what first brought Mary Shelley to the forefront of my mind. The novel is a masterpiece, carefully and intricately crafted, full of thoughts on human nature and tempestuous feelings of self. And this came from the mind of a nineteen-year old girl, recently eloped with a Romantic poet and the child of two philosophical heavyweights. I immediately adored her. One can't help but be fascinated by those who create masterpieces like Frankenstein. It is why Jane Austen has so many adoring followers, we readers want to get to know those whose writing touched us so deeply. For a long time Mary Shelley was very much hidden in the large shadow cast by her acquaintances, but renewed interest in her has allowed a large field of Mary-centred research to flower. In Search of Mary Shelley is a part of that, a book that tries to paint a picture of who this girl was, what kind of woman she became, and why.
Since my introduction to Mary Shelley started at university, I am used to reading about her in a certain, "academic" way. In Search of Mary Shelley is a refreshing break from that, with Sampson writing very casually and directly. She avoids academic lingo and doesn't really quote from any research into Mary. Rather, Sampson attempts to sketch a portrait of who Mary Shelley could have been based on details in her books, letters and journals, as far as those are available, as well as what is known of the time period. Because of the book's lack of references, it occasionally felt to me as if too much of it could be made up. The picture Sampson creates isn't necessarily a factual one, but very much a potential one. Perhaps Mary did feel this way, maybe that letter does reference an awareness of a larger cultural event, or possibly none of it is true. Although I enjoyed reading In Search of Mary Shelley I have been too spoiled by my time at university and felt the lack of supporting material for Sampson's claims. However, for someone wanting to get a sense of what Mary's inner life could have been like and what an asshole Percy Shelley at times was, In Search of Mary Shelley is an excellent starting point!
In Search of Mary Shelley offers a fascinating insight into who Mary Shelley could have been. Although Sampson doesn't quote much from academic research and allows herself some artistic freedom, it is a worthwhile read for those who want to get a sense of Mary.
leannep's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.5
Watched a movie on SBS about Mary and Percy Bessie Shelley then saw this book in the op shop. Good book. I learnt so much. Who knew her mum was Mary Wollstonecraft feminist, who died soon after she was born. And her dad a revolutionary philosopher and publisher. What feisty teenager Mary Shelley was, and what an entitled, selfish chauvinist was Percy, even though Mary tried to 'massage ' his legacy in publishing his work after he died young. I liked the analysis of Frankenstein too.
laraamaee's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
4.0
I think this book was perfect for someone like me who has in interest in Mary Shelley and Romanticism, but doesn't actually know that much about it (or, didn't, after reading this). I liked Sampson's approach of offering several interpretations of the evidence available, to guess at differing possibilities of what Mary's character was and what her motivations were. I also liked that the novel sort of revolved around Frankenstein, because what a great novel.
I certainly learned a lot of things about Mary that surprised me: her being sent away for long periods as a child, her father's coldness towards her, her vegetarianism, her possible bisexuality(!), how much Percy kept her on a string with his 'free love' beliefs and consequent involvements with many other women (and the parallels between Mary and Harriet, Percy's first wife who was also emotionally—and physically—abandoned and thus committed suicide—like Fanny, Mary's step-sibling who was also left to deal with the family's ruined reputation after Mary's elopement).
Speaking of, Shelley's life really was tragic, right from the outset with her birth killing her mother Mary Wollstonecraft, but Sampson's writing style makes it a compelling read: you can tell she's a poet. A poet handling the story of a writer's life who was raised by writers and surrounded by writers. I guess you can't get more 'literary' than this. Although, I was thrown off at points by Sampson's often confusing syntax/sentence structure/lack of commas and some typographical errors, but after a while I guess I got used to it.
I feel bad for Mary Shelley and that her later life was so overtaken by stress regarding finances and publishing, and the constant restraints put on her by the men in her life. But she really is a complicated figure (I guess, like most biography subjects...)
Nonetheless, this was certainly a useful read for my module this upcoming semester about the Wollstonecraft-Godwin-Shelleys...I just want to know even more!
I certainly learned a lot of things about Mary that surprised me: her being sent away for long periods as a child, her father's coldness towards her, her vegetarianism, her possible bisexuality(!), how much Percy kept her on a string with his 'free love' beliefs and consequent involvements with many other women (and the parallels between Mary and Harriet, Percy's first wife who was also emotionally—and physically—abandoned and thus committed suicide—like Fanny, Mary's step-sibling who was also left to deal with the family's ruined reputation after Mary's elopement).
Speaking of, Shelley's life really was tragic, right from the outset with her birth killing her mother Mary Wollstonecraft, but Sampson's writing style makes it a compelling read: you can tell she's a poet. A poet handling the story of a writer's life who was raised by writers and surrounded by writers. I guess you can't get more 'literary' than this. Although, I was thrown off at points by Sampson's often confusing syntax/sentence structure/lack of commas and some typographical errors, but after a while I guess I got used to it.
I feel bad for Mary Shelley and that her later life was so overtaken by stress regarding finances and publishing, and the constant restraints put on her by the men in her life. But she really is a complicated figure (I guess, like most biography subjects...)
Nonetheless, this was certainly a useful read for my module this upcoming semester about the Wollstonecraft-Godwin-Shelleys...I just want to know even more!