Stephanie Hemphill’s novel tells Mary’s own story in vivid, unsparing verse. This unique format captures Mary’s inner world as she navigates a tumultuous romance, societal condemnation, profound loss, and her literary breakthrough.
Hemphill balances historical detail with compelling emotion, offering readers a touching portrayal of the loneliness and creativity that culminated in Frankenstein. The poetic form perfectly suits the subject, showcasing young Mary Shelley’s vulnerability and extraordinary strength.
Mary's Monster is a stunning illustrated novel that conveys Mary Shelley’s incredible story through haunting black-and-white artwork and lyrical free verse. Lita Judge’s dramatic visuals breathe fresh life into Shelley’s loneliness, intellectual passion, and powerful imagination, mirroring her inner turmoil and inspiration on the page.
This unique combination of biography, art, and poetry beautifully explores the influences—from personal tragedy to philosophical debates—that led Mary to create her unforgettable masterpiece.
In Passion, Jude Morgan skillfully creates a fictional narrative centered on Mary Shelley and the key literary figures of the Romantic era, including Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron. The novel vividly depicts the friendships, rivalries, and philosophical fervor that defined their circle.
Readers follow Mary’s complex development as her turbulent romance with Percy evolves alongside her creative imagination, placing her at the heart of a passionate and brilliant literary movement. Morgan’s exploration is revealing and satisfying for anyone fascinated by how personal lives intersect with creative genius.
Veronica Bennett’s AngelMonster pulls readers into the passionate and scandalous love affair between Mary Godwin and the married poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. The novel captures the perspective of a young, intelligent woman drawn into a captivating and unconventional romance that changes her life profoundly.
Bennett carefully outlines how their rebellious freedom, elopement, and eventual heartbreak shaped Mary’s imagination, showing firsthand how dramatic life events could inspire a tale as darkly powerful as Frankenstein.
The Dark Ascent fictionalizes the genesis of Mary Shelley’s masterpiece by blending elements from her biography with an imagined account of her motivations. The novel follows Mary through emotional turmoil, complex relationships, and tragic personal loss, suggesting how these powerful experiences were transmuted into her legendary tale.
By taking creative license, this novel offers a deep dive into Mary's inner life, linking her personal suffering and intellectual curiosity directly to the act of literary creation.
This inventive fantasy novel reimagines Mary Shelley not just as an author but as a character in a thrilling mystery. She joins a remarkable group of young women—including the daughters of Dr. Jekyll, Rappaccini, and Moreau, along with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson—to investigate a secret society.
The novel brilliantly weaves literary history with supernatural adventure, portraying Mary as a sharp, compassionate investigator and the de facto leader of these "monstrous" daughters. It’s a fresh, clever take that celebrates her legacy by making her a hero in her own right.
Helen Edmundson’s historical novel traces Mary Shelley’s journey from a rebellious and brilliant teenager to a literary groundbreaker who defied the conventions of her time. The book focuses on her passionate, and often painful, relationship with Percy Shelley and the intellectual crucible of the Villa Diodati where Frankenstein was conceived.
Edmundson portrays Mary as a determined and complex figure whose fierce intellect and emotional resilience allowed her to create one of the most influential works of world literature.
This young adult novel offers a contemporary lens on Mary Shelley’s life and work. The story follows Gael, a high school student whose love for Mary Shelley becomes an obsession. When Gael’s life begins to mirror the Romantic poet’s own story of love, rivalry, and scandal, she must navigate her own drama.
While not a direct historical account, the novel is fundamentally about Mary Shelley, using her biography as a framework to explore timeless themes of love, ambition, and finding one’s own voice, making her story accessible to a new generation.