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Mary Shelley: The Last Man And Valperga

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Mary Shelley: The Last Man And Valperga
Mary Shelley is a well-known British novelist who is remembered by many for her gruesome novel, Frankenstein. Other successful pieces of literature that she wrote during her life include The Last Man and Valperga. Shelley’s work tends to reflect her life in many instances. The tragic events that occurred in Mary Shelley’s life are the reasons why Frankenstein is written with so many horrendous occurrences. When Mary Shelley came into the world, she came knowing she had to live up to her family’s writing legacy. Prior to Shelley’s birth, England was experiencing stormy weather due to a volcanic eruption. Just two weeks before Mary’s birth, an unplanned comet arrived and shone bright for 11 days. During this period the weather was calm, but …show more content…
In November of 1812, Percy Shelley and Mary Godwin have their first encounter with each other. In 1813, Mary Godwin again goes and lives under the roof of the Baxters. On March 30, 1814, she arrives back in London and begins seeing Percy almost daily after seeing him on May 5. In June of 1814, Mary announces her love for Percy at her mother’s grave in the St. Pancras Cemetery. At the end of July 1814, Percy, Mary, and her stepsister, Jane, leave to go to France. This decision causes William Godwin to disown his daughter for her behavior. The three of them return in September after a money shortage has taken place in their travels. In 1815, Mary gives birth to a premature baby girl named Clara, but she dies. On January 24, 1816, Mary delivers a son named William into the world. Percy and Mary make plans for Claire to get together with Lord Byron. Lord Byron, Claire, Percy, William, and Mary all stay in Lake Geneva during June. On June 16, 1816, Mary has her vision on what became the basis of Frankenstein. Claire, Percy, William, and Mary return to London on September 8, 1816. A month later, on October 9, Fanny kills herself and William Godwin will not declare it is her body so she is buried as an unknown person. On December 10, 1816, Percy’s wife, Harriet Shelley, drowns herself and twenty days later Mary Godwin marries Percy Shelley. On May 14, 1817, Mary Shelley finishes Frankenstein and publishes it in March of 1818 (Mellor). After Frankenstein, Mary Shelley wrote numerous novels that she is known for

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