Mary Shelley
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was an English novelist best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. She was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Frankenstein
The Modern Prometheus
This classic novel tells the story of a young scientist who creates a grotesque but sentient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. The scientist, horrified by his creation, abandons it, leading the creature to seek revenge. The novel explores themes of ambition, responsibility, guilt, and the potential consequences of playing God.
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2. The Last Man
Set in a dystopian future, the story follows Lionel Verney, who becomes the last survivor of a global plague that decimates humanity. As he navigates the desolate world, Lionel reflects on his past relationships and the societal collapse that led to the end of civilization. The narrative explores themes of isolation, loss, and the enduring human spirit in the face of inevitable extinction, offering a poignant meditation on the fragility of human existence and the relentless passage of time.
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3. Frankenstein / Dracula / Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde
In a chilling exploration of the duality of human nature and the consequences of unchecked ambition, the narrative follows a brilliant scientist who defies natural laws to create life, only to be horrified by the monstrous being he brings into existence. As the creature grapples with its own identity and the rejection it faces from society, a tragic tale unfolds, highlighting the destructive power of isolation, the quest for acceptance, and the moral dilemmas of playing god. This gothic masterpiece delves into themes of creation, responsibility, and the dark recesses of the human psyche.
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4. Mathilda
Set against the backdrop of the English countryside, this poignant novella explores the tumultuous life of a young woman grappling with the haunting legacy of her father's forbidden love for her. As she navigates the depths of her own despair and isolation, the protagonist reflects on themes of guilt, loss, and the search for redemption. Through introspective letters, she unveils the tragic circumstances that have shaped her existence, ultimately leading to a profound meditation on the complexities of human emotion and the enduring impact of familial bonds.
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5. Frankenstien
The Modern Prometheus
A brilliant but obsessed scientist animates a being from dead body parts and then rejects it, prompting the creature—shunned and anguished—to seek understanding, companionship, and ultimately revenge; the story follows their mutual ruin as isolation, guilt, and the consequences of playing God drive both creator and creation toward tragedy across desolate landscapes.
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6. Lives Of The Most Eminent Literary And Scientific Men Of France Volume 1
A collection of concise biographical essays on leading French intellectuals, this volume recounts the lives, major works, and historical contexts of prominent literary and scientific figures; it highlights their personal struggles, intellectual achievements, and influence on culture and ideas. Written to introduce English readers to French intellectual history, the book blends factual narrative with moral and philosophical reflections, situating each figure within the social and political currents of their time.
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7. Maurice, Or, The Fisher's Cot
The Fisher's Cot
A touching moral tale set in a small coastal village, following a humble fisherman's struggles with poverty, illness, and family anxiety as he and his wife maintain warmth, charity, and steadfastness in the face of hardship; through compassionate acts toward neighbors and a rescued child, the household confronts misfortune, learns the importance of parental love and community support, and finds consolation and reconciliation, underscoring themes of domestic virtue, kindness, and social responsibility.
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8. Valperga
The Life and Adventures of Castruccio, Prince of Lucca
Set in early 14th-century Italy, the novel follows the resolute Countess Euthanasia as she strives to preserve the independence, peaceful governance, and republican ideals of her small principality against the ambitious condottiero Castruccio Castracani. Torn between personal feeling and political conviction, she refuses to compromise her principles as Castruccio’s drive for power brings conquest, betrayal, and increasing tyranny; their fraught relationship becomes a lens for themes of liberty versus ambition, the moral costs of rule, and the tragic consequences when private loyalties collide with public aims.
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