Date of Birth: August 30, 1797
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Date of Death: February 1, 1851
Biography
Mary Shelley, born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, was an English novelist best known for her Gothic novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” which she wrote at the age of 18. Born into a family of intellectuals, her father was the political philosopher William Godwin, and her mother was the feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft. Shelley’s life was marked by both personal tragedy and significant literary achievement. She married the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816, and together they moved through the literary circles of their time. Despite her struggles, including the deaths of three of her four children and her husband, Mary Shelley continued to write and publish novels, short stories, and travelogues until her death in 1851. Her work, particularly “Frankenstein,” has left a lasting legacy in both literature and popular culture.
5 Interesting Facts about Mary Shelley
1. Mary Shelley started writing “Frankenstein” when she was just 18 years old.
2. “Frankenstein” is considered one of the earliest examples of science fiction.
3. She was the daughter of two prominent intellectuals: Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin.
4. Shelley was widowed at the age of 24 when her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned.
5. Despite her literary success, Shelley spent much of her life in financial difficulties.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mary Shelley
1. “Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
2. “The beginning is always today.”
3. “Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”
4. “I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.”
5. “Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Mary Shelley’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but she faced financial difficulties for much of her life.
Children
Mary Shelley had four children, but only one, Percy Florence Shelley, survived to adulthood.
Relevant Links
1. [Biography of Mary Shelley](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft-Shelley
2. [Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”](https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/frankenstein/context/
4. [Mary Shelley’s quotes](https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/11139.Mary_Wollstonecraft_Shelley
5. [Mary Shelley’s family life](https://www.bl.uk/people/mary-shelley
