A review by lokster71
In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein by Fiona Sampson
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.