Mary Shelli Writer, author of the book 'Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus' Date of Birth: 30.08.1797 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley, born on August 30, 1797 in London, was the daughter of renowned English writers William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft. Her mother died a few days after her birth, leaving a lasting impression on Shelley, who idolized her.

Her father, William Godwin, had already experienced his own fame as a writer. Many of his most devoted disciples, such as poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, had distanced themselves from his views and publicly condemned them. William Godwin remarried, but his earnings from writing were not enough to support his large family.

Shelley's childhood was marked by a strained relationship with her stepmother, who was vastly different from her mother. While her stepmother was a bourgeois woman with superficial interests, Shelley found solace in books and writing from a young age. She had a passion for writing stories, and her love for literature was nurtured by her father's library.

At the age of sixteen, Shelley's life changed when she met Percy Shelley. Percy was an admirer of her father's ideas and frequently visited their home. Shelley and Percy fell in love and decided to run away together, taking Shelley's stepsister, Claire, with them.

Their elopement was met with disapproval and ostracism from society. Rumors circulated that Shelley's father had sold her to Percy, and even her close friend abandoned her. The sympathy of the public was with Percy's estranged wife, Harriet, who was left impoverished with two children. Although Percy tried to help her, they struggled financially and were constantly pursued by creditors. In early 1816, Shelley gave birth to her son William, and the young mother longed for relative stability in her life.

In an effort to find respite from their troubles, the Shelley family decided to leave London and traveled to Switzerland in the summer of 1816. They were joined by Claire, who had become Byron's lover. It was during their time in Switzerland that Shelley conceived the idea for her first major work, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus".

"Frankenstein" is a novel that tells the story of a young scientist who creates a monstrous being. It was published when Shelley was just nineteen years old and became a part of national literature, gaining worldwide recognition. The novel was a product of Shelley's imagination and the literary atmosphere that surrounded her.

Despite the success of her novel, Shelley's life continued to be marked by tragedy. Her stepsister Claire gave birth to Byron's child, which added to Shelley's emotional burden. Her first child died shortly after birth, and her husband's untimely death in 1822 devastated her. Shelley was left to raise their son alone, facing numerous legal and financial battles with Percy's family.

Throughout her life, Shelley continued to write and publish, despite the challenges she faced. She dedicated herself to her son's upbringing and fought for her rights as a mother. Despite financial hardships and ongoing conflicts with Percy's family, she persisted in her writing career.

Mary Shelley's life was a mixture of poetry and tragedy. She experienced the joys of love and creativity, but also faced personal losses and societal rejection. Despite the hardships, she left behind a legacy as a remarkable writer and a pioneer in the science fiction genre. Her novel "Frankenstein" continues to captivate readers and remains a classic in literature. Mary Shelley died on February 1, 1851, leaving behind a lasting impact on the world of literature.