Mary Shelley was an English novelist best known as the author of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818). She is regarded as a key figure in Romantic and Gothic literature and an early science-fiction pioneer, as documented by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in London on 30 August 1797, she was the daughter of political philosopher William Godwin and feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft. She died in London on 1 February 1851, aged 53.
Her life was closely bound up with the English Romantic movement. In 1814 she met the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, eloped with him to the Continent the same year, and married him in December 1816 after the death of his first wife, Harriet. Percy Shelley drowned in 1822 after his boat sank in a storm in the Bay of La Spezia.
Who Was Mary Shelley?
Several details stand out in any overview of her life:
- Mary Shelley was 18 years old when she began writing Frankenstein.
- She was the daughter of philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft and political novelist William Godwin.
- Percy Bysshe Shelley, a leading Romantic poet, became her husband in 1816.
- She lost her first husband and three of her four children during her lifetime.
- Frankenstein is considered an early example of science fiction and has never been out of print.
- Her later works include The Last Man, a prophetic novel about a pandemic.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (née Godwin) |
| Birth | 30 August 1797, London |
| Death | 1 February 1851 (age 53), London |
| Cause of Death | Probable brain tumour (as recorded by family) |
| Spouse | Percy Bysshe Shelley (m. 1816–1822) |
| Children | Four (only one survived to adulthood) |
| Famous Work | Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) |
| Genres | Gothic fiction, science fiction, Romanticism |
| Notable Influences | John Milton, Dante, her parents |
Early Life and Parents
Mary Shelley’s family background was intellectually prominent. Her father, William Godwin, was a political philosopher and novelist, while her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a feminist writer. The Wikipedia biography of Mary Shelley traces her early years in this literary household.
Education and Influences
Her intellectual formation drew on a wide range of sources. John Milton, Dante, and her parents are listed among her notable influences, and her writing developed within the wider Romantic movement.
What Is Mary Shelley Most Famous For?
Mary Shelley is most famous for Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, first published in 1818. The novel has never been out of print and is widely regarded as an early example of science fiction.
The Creation of Frankenstein (1818)
Mary Shelley was 18 when she began writing Frankenstein. She was staying at Lake Geneva in 1816, the year she also married Percy Shelley. The novel was published two years later, in 1818, and has remained in print ever since.
Other Notable Works
Beyond Frankenstein, Mary Shelley wrote several other novels, including The Last Man (1826), a prophetic novel about a pandemic. Reference works typically credit her with five novels, including Valperga, Lodore, and Falkner. Her range extended to travel writing as well: Rambles in Germany and Italy, published in 1844, is one of the travel works specifically mentioned in sources such as Encyclopedia.com.
Literary Themes and Style
Mary Shelley worked as a novelist, essayist, biographer, travel writer, dramatist, and editor. Her fiction is associated with Gothic fiction, science fiction, and Romanticism. Frankenstein in particular is credited with creating the mad-scientist trope and shaping the horror and science-fiction genres. Her work is also documented in the Poetry Foundation‘s poet archive.
Frankenstein is regarded as an early science-fiction novel and a foundational Gothic text. It has never been out of print since its first publication in 1818, and its influence on both horror and science fiction is widely acknowledged.
Who Was Mary Shelley’s Husband?
Mary Shelley’s husband was Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the major English Romantic poets. Their relationship was unconventional by the standards of the time: they met in 1814, eloped to the Continent the same year, and married in December 1816 after the death of his first wife, Harriet.
Marriage to Percy Bysshe Shelley
The couple’s life together lasted until Percy’s death in 1822, when his boat sank in a storm in the Gulf of La Spezia. After his death, Mary Shelley edited and promoted his posthumous works. Penguin Random House notes the importance of this editorial role in her career.
The literary context of their relationship is covered in Romantic Poetry and the Shelleys.
The extent of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s editorial contributions to the Frankenstein manuscript is a matter of scholarly debate. Some researchers argue that his influence was significant, while others maintain that the novel was primarily Mary Shelley’s own work.
Children and Family Life
Mary Shelley had four children with Percy Shelley. Only one, Percy Florence Shelley, survived to adulthood. She therefore outlived both her husband and three of her four children.
How Did Mary Shelley Die?
Illness and Final Years
Mary Shelley died in London on 1 February 1851, aged 53. Older biographies and reference works commonly state that she died of a suspected or belatedly diagnosed brain tumour. Biography.com, however, notes that scholars now suspect a recurrent, finally massive stroke as the more likely cause.
Sources differ on the cause of Mary Shelley’s death. Traditional reference works describe a brain tumour, while more recent scholarship has proposed a stroke. Both interpretations remain visible in current biographical writing.
Legacy and Burial
Mary Shelley is buried in St. Peter’s Churchyard in Bournemouth, England. According to the featured biography on Wikipedia’s United Kingdom portal, her grave also contains the heart of Percy Bysshe Shelley and the remains of their son.
What Films About Mary Shelley Exist?
The 2017 Film ‘Mary Shelley’
A feature film titled Mary Shelley was released in 2017. Its IMDb page lists the cast, synopsis, and production details.
Other Screen Adaptations of Her Life
Beyond the 2017 film, the biographical record does not identify other full-length features focused on Mary Shelley’s own life.
What Are All of Mary Shelley’s Books?
Novels
Mary Shelley is typically credited with five novels: Frankenstein (1818), The Last Man (1826), Valperga, Lodore, and Falkner. The exact number depends on how shorter prose works are classified.
Short Stories and Travel Writings
In addition to her novels, Mary Shelley wrote short stories, essays, and travel books. Rambles in Germany and Italy, published in 1844, is one of the travel works specifically mentioned in biographical sources.
Edited Works and Letters
Mary Shelley also worked as an editor. She edited and promoted the posthumous works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, a role documented in multiple biographical references. The full text of Frankenstein is available through Project Gutenberg.
What Does the Timeline of Mary Shelley’s Life Look Like?
- 1797: Born in London to William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft.
- 1814: Met Percy Bysshe Shelley and eloped with him to the Continent.
- 1816: Married Percy Shelley after Harriet Shelley’s death.
- 1818: Frankenstein published.
- 1822: Percy Shelley drowned in a sailing accident in the Bay of La Spezia, an event recorded in the DPMA profile.
- 1826: The Last Man published.
- 1844: Rambles in Germany and Italy published.
- 1851: Died in London, age 53.
What Is Known and What Remains Uncertain About Mary Shelley?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear or debated |
|---|---|
| Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, published in 1818. | The exact cause of her death is debated. Older sources list a brain tumour; newer scholarship suggests a stroke. |
| She married Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816. | The extent of Percy’s editorial contributions to the Frankenstein manuscript is disputed. |
| She died on 1 February 1851 in London. | Whether she had an unreported pregnancy or other medical issues in later years is uncertain. |
| She was the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. | No conflicting account appears in the consulted sources. |
Why Does Mary Shelley Still Matter?
Mary Shelley’s significance extends beyond the plot of Frankenstein. The novel is widely credited with creating the mad-scientist trope and with influencing both horror and science fiction as genres. The British Library places her work within the broader context of the Romantic and Victorian literary movements.
Her position as a woman writing in the early nineteenth century is also part of her legacy. She was the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, and she built a career that crossed several genres during a period when the literary world was largely dominated by men.
The circumstances surrounding the creation of Frankenstein add another layer to her importance. The novel was begun in 1816, during the period known as the Year Without a Summer, while Mary Shelley was staying at Lake Geneva. That moment of literary creation has become part of the novel’s enduring mythology.
What Did Mary Shelley Say About Her Work?
“I busied myself to think of a story… one which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature.”
Mary Shelley, introduction to the 1831 edition of Frankenstein
“The being whom I had created… had made me feel what a devil I had created.”
Frankenstein, Chapter 24
“She was a child of the revolution… both French and industrial.”
Miriam Seymour, Mary Shelley biographer
What Is Mary Shelley’s Lasting Legacy?
Mary Shelley’s place in literary history rests primarily on Frankenstein, a novel that has never been out of print and is widely credited with shaping the horror and science-fiction genres. Her wider career as a novelist, editor, and travel writer, together with her work preserving Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poetry, makes her a central figure in English Romanticism. Her best-known work is examined in Frankenstein: The Novel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books did Mary Shelley write?
She wrote several novels including Frankenstein, The Last Man, Valperga, Lodore, and Falkner, plus many short stories, travel books, and biographical works. The exact number depends on classification, but typically five novels are credited.
Did Mary Shelley have children?
Yes, she had four children with Percy Shelley. Only one, Percy Florence Shelley, survived to adulthood.
Who were Mary Shelley’s parents?
Her mother was Mary Wollstonecraft, author and women’s rights advocate, and her father was William Godwin, a political philosopher and novelist.
Where is Mary Shelley buried?
She is buried in St. Peter’s Churchyard in Bournemouth, England, alongside her husband’s heart (a relic) and their son.
What is the plot of Frankenstein?
The novel tells the story of scientist Victor Frankenstein, who creates a living creature from dead body parts. The creature eventually turns on its creator, leading to tragedy.
When was Frankenstein published?
It was first published anonymously on January 1, 1818, with a second edition in 1823 and a third in 1831.
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Kieran Doherty covers Westminster, councils, public policy and political affairs across the United Kingdom.