Linda Bailey

I enjoyed this book very much. It is the story behind the story of Frankenstein. Mary Shelly, the author of Frankenstein, had a very interesting life. Many things led Mary to write – what many people consider - the first science fiction novel. The book is written for both the young and old. However, this book leaves out some of Mary’s more adult experiences. The art goes extremely well with the story and enhances the book beautifully. The team of Linda Bailey (author) and Julia Sarda (illustrator) did a superb job. I would love to see these two do more books on other authors such as: H.G. Wells; Jules Verne and Edgar Allan Poe… (mais)

My review could not do justice to this well-written and beautifully illustrated book about Mary Shelley. I don't know where to begin, other than to say, Read This Book!!

I knew so very little of Mary Shelley. This is a special gift from a wonderful friend I connected with a few years ago on the 75 challenge threads. The book sat by my side for a while, on a pile of illustrated books. What a shame that I didn't read it then. But, I am so glad that I set this aside to read this year, and I wish I had read it earlier. But, I do believe that books find us, and this was the time to read about the incredible life of the creator of the exciting book Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley was a rebel, and was sent away to Scotland as a punishment for her inability to reign in her emotions. A child of a vast imagination she called her daydreams "castles in the air." To Mary, the daydreams she found in books, could never compare with her own thoughts. Her mother died when Mary was only eleven days young. Her father remarried a woman whom she despised and detested.

While she died when Mary was so very young, her biological mother was a great inspiration to her. When her mother wrote books, she did so because of a commitment and a firm belief that women should have the same rights as men. She spent countless hours visiting her mother's gravesite.

Mary wrote Frankenstein when she was only eighteen years old! As a young child, hiding behind the couch in the parlor when her father entertained Samuel Taylor, who held the attention of the the small group by reading The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, prodded Mary to later in her life, control the wildness of her thoughts and, using her fertile mind, she created a bleak book that held a lot of drama.

Roaming the barren hills of Scotland, her imagination was free to take her wherever she went. Returning to her family at the age of sixteen, she was still considered a supreme bother and big Problem. She ran away with the well-known poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, -- a perfect match, as he too was a dreamer. She even took her step sister with her. I can only imagine the consternation of her father and step mother!!!

As the book notes, they had very little money, but they traveled to Europe, on foot and with horse and donkey. Taking a boat along the Rhine River was instrumental to fomenting the ideas for Frankenstein. Seeing a old run-down castle, she called it Frankenstein.

What a fascinating life she had. With her husband, they traveled to Switzerland. There they met the world-famous poet Lord Byron. As storms rent the evening skies, the company told ghost stories.

I encourage you to obtain a copy of this book and read about the very fascinating life -- and exceptional mind -- of a young woman 18 year old woman who dared to beat the odds and wrote and had her book Frankenstein published.… (mais)