'A pleasurably angst-infused read.' - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 'A thorough, sensitive portrayal of one of literature's most remarkable authors.' - Kirkus Reviews

Teen fans of Frankenstein will be doubly rewarded by both an account of the inspiration for the novel and the fascinating, scandal-rich life of its author.' - Booklist 'Reef does an excellent job of putting Mary Shelley's life and work in context. Success soon followed for Mary, but also great tragedy and misfortune.Ĭatherine Reef brings this passionate woman, brilliant writer, and forgotten feminist into crisp focus, detailing a life that was remarkable both before and after the publication of her iconic masterpiece. It was there, during a cold and wet summer, that she first imagined her story about a mad scientist who brought a corpse back to life. Mary ran away to Lake Geneva with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was just sixteen. The story of Frankenstein's creator is a strange, romantic, and tragic one, as deeply compelling as the novel itself. On the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein, comes a riveting biography of its author, Mary Shelley, whose life reads like a dark gothic novel, filled with scandal, death, drama, and one of the strangest love stories in literary history. Yet while it has some issues, overall Mary Shelley is an intriguing look at the woman behind one of the most frightening novels ever written.About the Book On the 200th anniversary of the publication of 'Frankenstein' comes a riveting biography of its author, whose life reads like a dark gothic novel filled with scandal, death, drama-and one of the strangest love stories in literary history. Also, the film doesn't really go much into the creation and legacy of the Frankenstein novel just a few scenes of Mary writing it and struggling to get it published.

However, there seems to be a bit of a political agenda, pushing acceptance of polyamory and the bohemian lifestyle. And the sets and costumes are incredibly well-done. Fanning delivers a strong performance and the rest of the cast is pretty good as well.

After falling in love with a young poet, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin runs off with her sister to live with him but things take a turn when his father cuts him off and they find themselves living in poverty and avoiding debt collectors, then one fateful night she has a dream that inspires her to write a chilling horror story that would become one of the most famous ever written. Elle Fanning leads the cast in the indie biopic Mary Shelley.

Mary Shelley by Catherine Reef