Author. Born in London, England, the second daughter of feminist and writer, Mary Wollstonecraft, and political journalist, William Godwin. Her mother died shortly after her birth, and her father, unusual at the time, provided her a superior education. She published her first poem at the age of ten, and became a political radical and free-thinker like her father. Popular poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and his first wife, Harriet, often visited Godwin's home and bookshop in London. After Harriet committed suicide, Shelley eloped to France with Mary, who was 16. During May of 1816, the couple traveled to Lake Geneva; where, apparently inspired by a ghost tale writing contest proposed by her friends, Mary had what she called a waking dream which became the manuscript for her debut novel, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus." In 1818, the Shelleys left England for Italy; while in Rome their son William died, and she suffered a nervous breakdown. A following pregnancy ended in miscarriage, which very nearly killed her as well. This was followed by the birth of her only surviving child, Percy Florence Shelley. In July 1822, her husband sailed up the Italian coast, and was caught in a storm on his return; he drowned along with his friend, Edward Williams, and a young boat attendant. Although she wrote further novels, including "Valperga" (1823), "The Last Man" (1826), "The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck" (1830), and "Falkner" (1837), she spent much of the rest of her life in promoting her late husband's work, including editing and annotating unpublished material. She returned to England, where although courted, was never to re-marry. She died in London of what some suspect to be a brain tumor. Her last work, considered by some to have been her best, was "Mathilda," which was published posthumously.
Author. Born in London, England, the second daughter of feminist and writer, Mary Wollstonecraft, and political journalist, William Godwin. Her mother died shortly after her birth, and her father, unusual at the time, provided her a superior education. She published her first poem at the age of ten, and became a political radical and free-thinker like her father. Popular poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and his first wife, Harriet, often visited Godwin's home and bookshop in London. After Harriet committed suicide, Shelley eloped to France with Mary, who was 16. During May of 1816, the couple traveled to Lake Geneva; where, apparently inspired by a ghost tale writing contest proposed by her friends, Mary had what she called a waking dream which became the manuscript for her debut novel, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus." In 1818, the Shelleys left England for Italy; while in Rome their son William died, and she suffered a nervous breakdown. A following pregnancy ended in miscarriage, which very nearly killed her as well. This was followed by the birth of her only surviving child, Percy Florence Shelley. In July 1822, her husband sailed up the Italian coast, and was caught in a storm on his return; he drowned along with his friend, Edward Williams, and a young boat attendant. Although she wrote further novels, including "Valperga" (1823), "The Last Man" (1826), "The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck" (1830), and "Falkner" (1837), she spent much of the rest of her life in promoting her late husband's work, including editing and annotating unpublished material. She returned to England, where although courted, was never to re-marry. She died in London of what some suspect to be a brain tumor. Her last work, considered by some to have been her best, was "Mathilda," which was published posthumously.
Bio by: Iola
Inscription
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Daughter of
William & Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin
And Widow of the Late Percy Bysshe Shelley
Born August 30th, 1797, died February 1st, 1851
Children
Percy Florence Shelley
Third Baronet
Son of Percy Bysshe Shelley & Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Born Nov 12th, 1819, Died Dec. 5th, 1889
Jane Shelley Widow of the above
Born Feb. 24th 1820 Died June 24th, 1899
Family Members
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