Born as Mary Wollstonecraft, she was married to Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816.
Throughout their marriage they were strong advocates of issues of social reform and used both of their writing careers as a platform for their efforts.
Following Percey’s death, Mary devoted much of her time and career to collecting all of her late husbands poetry and writing detailed, extensive notes for them.

Following the devastation, she returned to England with her son and continued to work on her own writing. She published Valperga and wrote several short stories, poems and reviews.
She was published in numerous journals and magazines, including the London Magazine and Westminister Review.

Genre

Shelley used many various techniques in her writings, including that of the Gothic novel.
The Goodwinian Novel: simply put, it was a genre of literature which attempted to explore the contradictory relations between the self and society. This form also possesses a strong philosophical side which can been seen in The Last Man and how Shelley attempts to explain the ultimate meaninglessness of the world.

Science/Apocalyptic Fiction: Although Frankenstein was highly successful and imitated in fiction and film, The Last Man did not immediately receive success. Shelley’s dramatic pairing of the gothic and apocalyptic genres did not appeal to the readers of the time.
Since the latter part of the twentieth century, The Last Man has grown in popularity and readers learned to appreciate Shelley’s achievements with the novel.

With The Last Man, Shelley reflects the shift that was happening in science fiction. It was moving away from its earlier focus on technological adventures, to a more sociological and psychological view of the future.

Feminism

One of the first feminists — seen through her writings (Ex: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and The Wrongs of Woman)
“We cannot, without depraving our minds, endeavour to please a lover or husband, but in proportion as he pleases us.”
Her writings focused on the role of the family in society, and more specifically, the role of the woman in said family.

She felt that educating women would strengthen the institution of marriage. Because it is a relationship between two individuals, women should have equal knowledge and sense.
Also, a stable marriage provides education for the children.
She also felt that the chastity and fidelity expected of women should also be required of men. She openly and publicly acknowledged female sexuality.

Mary believed that true freedom could only be attained when women and men were equally free and equal in their responsibilities.
She felt that education would give women this equality.

“I do not wish them to have power as men, but over themselves”

Her works seem to suggest that the compassion a woman offer’s to a family is necessary and without said compassion, civil society would fail.
Example Works: Lodore is the story of a wife and daughter who lose their husband/father. The death leaves the women with a surplus of obstacles to overcome. Shelley uses their journey through the obstacles as a way to examine the educational and social role of women by removing the dependence women were expected to have upon men.

“ I have a profound conviction that women are rendered weak and wretched , especially by a false system of education gathered from books written by men who have been more anxious to make women alluring mistresses than rational wives”

I would suggest this book to anyone with an open mind! It will definitely get you thinking and, in such a short read, could open your eyes to things you never noticed were there before.

* 1764 – Born July 9th to William Ward and Ann Oates.
*1787 – Married William Radcliffe, owner and editor of
The English Chronicle.
*1789 – The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne.
*1790 – A Sicilian Romance. 2 Volumes.
*1791 – A Romance of the Forest.
*1794 – The Mysteries of Udolpho.
*1797 – The Italian, or the Confessional of the Black Penitents.
*1823 – Died on February 7th of pneumonia.
*1826 – Gaston de Blondeville

THE GOTHIC NOVEL

Unlike other Gothic novels, the Radcliffean Gothic novel did not drip with blood. Instead, they were full of psychological tension. She does, however, make use of certain conventional props of the Gothic novel. (Battered castles, flickering candles, bats, rusty locks, creaking doors, dungeons, skulls, darkness and dankness).Her work tended to involve young, innocent women who are found in gloomy castles, ruled by mysterious barons

It has been said that Radcliffe’s Heroines play the role of the the overly feminine gothic victim, which could have been a product of Radcliffe’s bored mind, as her husband often stayed late at work. Critics have also noted that: “The Radcliffean gothic heroine is never actually attacked or beaten by any of the many daggers and swords that fill the pages of Radcliffe’s novels. She is merely continually threatened with attack and thereby terrified”

Finally, critics have said that from Radcliffe’s heroines are all the the same woman – from Julia to Adeline to Emily, and finally to Ellena, they merely change in dress.During the French Revolution, the English upper classes felt that the stability of their society was being threatened, thus endangering their social positions.

“Radcliffe’s novels, it has been suggested, allowed them a safe expression of anxieties about disruption and chaos while finally affirming conservative social values, traditional morality, and the (political) status quo”

Critics question whether Radcliffe was denying her submissive heroines independence and power of choice, in order to uphold patriarchal ideal.It has been said that, while others, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, were arguing for women’s rights and natural equality, Radcliffe’s novels were putting the anxiety these radical feminists created to rest through her heroines that were disappearing into marriage and idyllic tranquility at the end of her novels.

PUBLISHING

Although her publishing career was very short, Ann Radcliffe experienced tremendous success as a writer.
She published five novels, which were usually accompanied with various pieces of poetry. She also kept a travel journal of her adventures with her husband, and eventually published this as well.Her first two novels, The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne, and A Sicilian Romance were published anonymously, but did manage to receive a fair amount of good reviews.

Following these, she began to establish her reputation as “the great enchantress”, and essentially reinvented the classic Gothic novel. Her novels were explicitly more sexual and violent. She often offered detailed descriptions of her characters along with a deep analysis of her heroine. The Mysteries of Udolpho. The Italian and The Romance of the Forest all served to further enhance her reputation as a literary influence to other writers. Gaston de Blondeville and St. Alban’s Abbey were both published posthumously in 1826 and were still received with praise.

Radcliffe was known as an innovator in her use of the super natural and landscape, and was known to use suspense to structure her novel. Her influence was so strong that some contemporary writers actually used aliases in order to try to make the public think that they were actually reading the work of Radcliffe. E.B. Murray has said: “It may be no small praise to have been one of the most influential mediocre writers that English literature has produced, and there, is no one with a better claim to that distinction than Ann Radcliffe”.

David Adams Richards has long been a literary idol of mine, and I am genuinely excited to see what a piece of his non fiction is like, as this will be my first. I think he presents many valid arguments in this novel which is centered around his quest in Christianity. I am particularly interested to read his accounts of miracles and meetings with proud murderers.

I feel that I am going to be able to relate to this novel a lot, simply due to the fact that my own Christian relationship has been rocky. Also, I have 3 people waiting to borrow it when I am done so far… so I guess I have no choice but to stay up just a little later!… I won’t regret it when 7am rolls around…right??

“I have possessions ample enough for us both; and you deserve to hare them with me’ and you shall, with as little reserve, as if you had brought me what the world reckons an equivalent: for in my own opinion, you bring me what is infinitely more valuable, an experienced truth, a well-tried virtue, and an understanding and genteel behavior that will do credit to the station you will be placed in” (pp 368)

He is not only referring to the physical aspects of a relationship, the lust and possessions – he is also referring to the emotional aspects of a relationship. It seems to me like Richardson is trying to suggest that there is more than just a physical aspect to a relationship. The lust, sex and money is ever present, but he feels that there is also room for a friendship between two people.

First up, Fantomina… I actually really really liked this read. She is conniving, daring, strong and overall humorous. Not sure if it is intended to come across that way, but I can’t help but giggle at all of her disguises and how Beauplasir never seems to catch on!

On a more serious note, when reading literature, any sort of literature, I have always found that I have a soft spot for pieces that celebrate women’s rights. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am in no way some crazy sort of activist, but I mean seeing a strong independent female character step outside of the social norms is just so pleasing. Fantomina dared to do things that were unheard of in her time…she took charge, and whether you agree with her actions or not, we can all agree that she went after what she wanted, which is something a lot of people hold back on in life. I found that even though I thought she wasted too much time on Beauplasir, I was still impressed at her determination.

In a culture that was supporting men as the dominant sex, I feel that Haywood really showed her resistance. Although we, in 2009 cannot possibly understand how it was in 1725, when the novel was first published. All in all I really enjoyed this read, it was entertaining and she didn’t drive me near as crazy as Crusoe!!

-Jenn

So, Im about a third of the way through and I feel like this poor guy can’t get a break, and although he sometimes implies he has brought it all on himself for ignoring his fathers warnings, I can sympathize with his yearning for adventures and to travel the world and step outside of the ‘middle class’ lifestyle.

I was a bit put off by him selling Xury away as a slave and then later on does not reminisce about him as an old friend, but rather about how much he could use him as a slave in his present situation as a planter.

Also, I noticed that once he was on the island he once again proceeded to declare that his shipwreck was a punishment for his pursuit of riches..etc…however he tends to contradict himself when he makes a dozen or so trips back to the ship to get supplies. Now, Im not saying he didn’t get some useful things, but really…why on earth would he need “a dozen good knives and forks” when he is alone on an island. Also, he says he has no use for the coins he finds but he ends up taking them anyway…maybe this will be a pattern throughout the novel??

OK, thats enough babbling for now…more reading to do!