Mary Shelley, the author of an Early Science Fiction Book

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   Venkatachari Mposted 5 months ago

   Hi, Friends! Today is Mary Shelley's Birthday (1797-1851). She was the wife of the famous poet Percy Besshey Shelley. Do you know? She was a popular novelist scripting one unique Gothic Novel "Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus" in 1818. It was a fictional horror story of a scientist named Frankenstein who created life and was horrified by his creation.
   Why I am sharing this story is that when I was discussing about Shelley with my son, he told me that Frankenstein was a popular novel even during his childhood and he read it from his school library when he was in Grade 5. He is a fan of scientific fiction even during his preschool days.

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      Genna Eastposted 5 months agoin reply to this

      interesting thread, Venka.  Not many people know who wrote “Frankenstein” in that she was indeed Shelley’s wife or that they were friends of Lord Byron – another poet from the romantic era.  Mary was his second wife.  (Shelley’s first wife committed suicide.) Ozymandias is one of my favorite Shelley poems.

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         Venkatachari Mposted 5 months agoin reply to this

         Yes, Genna. They were all great writers: the Shelleys, Mary's parents, and their friends, Lord Byron and John William Polidori. Thanks for the mention of Ozymandias.

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   Kathleen Cochranposted 5 months ago

   I did not know who Mary Shelley was married to! What do you know.
   
   You would probably enjoy the works of Marie Benedict. She writes novels about women who have been overlooked by history: Einstein's wife, Heddy Lamar, Agatha Christie. Some of her characters are purely fictional but they would have been unique at the time.

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      Venkatachari Mposted 5 months agoin reply to this

      Mary Shelley's husband PB Shelley was a great poet who wrote great poetry, prose, and essays in volumes that were later collected by his admirers and published in book forms.
      
      Regarding Marie Benedict, who wrote The Other Einstein, here is a link for her other details and works.
      https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1 … e_Benedict

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         Kathleen Cochranposted 5 months agoin reply to this

         Oh, you know her. She is a really good read.  Her book on Agatha Christie is the best I've ever read about the prolific writer. Did you know the sales of her books is second only to The Bible?

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            Venkatachari Mposted 5 months agoin reply to this

            Do you mean "The Mystery of Mrs.Christie"? I couldn't read it. But I like to read it when available.
            
            She began writing with the pen name "Marie Benedict" in 2016. Before that, she was writing in her own name- Heather Terrell.

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   Deepa damodaranposted 5 months ago

   That reminded me of Agatha Christie's autobiography. She is a prolific writer indeed. The beauty of her craft has amazed me. I need to read this Mary Shelley book on Agatha Christie. Both are great writers and I look forward to reading the book. Thank you, Kathleen Cochran, and Venkatachari M, for this conversation.

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      Venkatachari Mposted 5 months agoin reply to this

      You are welcome, Deepa. I am a fan of Agatha Christie. I read at least 10 books of her and watched two movies based on her books.

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   Kathleen Cochranposted 5 months ago

   My favorite Benedict work is "The Only Woman in the Room". Heddy Lamaar the movie star, essentially invented GPS. It is an amazing story of her life.

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