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1814: Imagining the life of Mary Shelley — just before she wrote ‘Frankenstein’ —a story of love and of gothic obsession.
Angelmonster
What you need to know before your trail
London, Spring 1814
Poet Percy Shelley enters the life of young Mary Godwin. she is immediately fascinated by him to the point that she ends up fleeing her life in London with her stepsister and flees to Europe. It’s as if she has been saved by an angel she thinks
There, in Paris and Venice, they make many weird and wonderful friends – free spirits like themselves and for a while they are footloose and fancy free. But they are being chased by ghosts and gossip …
Mary is also being haunted by visions and fanciful images of things she daren’t not speak of. But as time goes on and the distance between now and the past widen, she sees more shadows and visions and realises that her ‘ angel’ has become a monster.
Locations
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To ‘meet’ Mary Shelley who wrote what is arguably the best horror story ever – Frankenstein – is the main premise and unique aspect of this book. It’s not really about Frankenstein himself but rather Mary’s early life and her seemingly bad judge of character in running off with a poet.
The flee from the father’s bookshop in london and travel via Calais to Paris and then on to Venice amongst other places.
Its her journey quite literally to the moment she picks up her pen and writes Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Interesting and based on true fact.
Other horror novels such as The Castle of Otranto set in Otranto Italy are mentioned and it is said to be the first horror gothic novel which inspired writers such as Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker.
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: Angelmonster
Author/Guide: Veronica Bennett Destination: London, Otranto Departure Time: 1814
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