Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society The Truth About Mary Shelley
Nov 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, poet and biographer Fiona Sampson uncovers the life of Mary Shelley, the mastermind behind Frankenstein. Fiona explores scandalous myths, including whether Mary lost her virginity on her mother's grave and if she kept Percy Shelley’s heart after his death. They dive into Mary’s upbringing, her radical intellectual influences, and how personal loss fueled her writing. Discover the dramatic backdrop of Villa Diodati, where the famous ghost story competition sparked her iconic novel, revealing the shadows of her turbulent life.
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Personal Drama Shaped Frankenstein
- Mary Shelley created enduring horror mythologies from personal and family drama.
- Her life’s scandals and intellect shaped Frankenstein’s themes of creation and othering.
Tragic Origins And Public Scandal
- Mary was born to Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin; her mother died ten days later of puerperal infection.
- Godwin's grief-led memoir publicly revealed Wollstonecraft's unconventional past, damaging family reputation.
Intellect Amid Domestic Instability
- Mary’s upbringing mixed radical intellectual legacy with social decline and domestic strife.
- Stepmother tensions and financial instability interrupted the progressive education her parents intended.
