Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was an English novelist and writer born in Somers Town in 1797 and died in Chester Square in 1851. A key figure in British Romanticism, she is best known for writing the Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, which is considered an early example of science fiction. She also wrote the apocalyptic novel The Last Man and edited the works of her husband, the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her literary output often challenged individualistic Romantic ethos by arguing that cooperation and sympathy were essential for civil society.

Shelley’s life was marked by personal tragedy and intellectual rigor. After her mother’s death shortly after her birth, she received an informal education from her father, the philosopher William Godwin. She traveled through Europe with Percy Bysshe Shelley before settling in Italy, where she wrote much of her fiction. After his death in 1822, she devoted herself to raising her son and her career as a professional author. Her works remain widely read and have inspired numerous adaptations, cementing her legacy as a significant voice in nineteenth-century literature.

Reading Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in translation

On Paralelo, you will read Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus in English, aligned phrase by phrase with a German translation. This Gothic novel features descriptive prose and dialogue typical of the Romantic period, offering a rich vocabulary that may feel challenging but rewarding. As the only title in our catalogue by Shelley, it serves as your sole starting point. The text is approximately 316 minutes of reading, making it a substantial but manageable project for a dedicated learner. Using your existing English knowledge as an anchor, you can navigate the original text while gradually acquiring German through the side-by-side comparison. This method allows you to engage with Shelley’s atmospheric storytelling while building your second language skills effectively.