Mary Shelley (1797–1851) was an English novelist best known for Frankenstein, a landmark gothic story that helped shape modern science fiction. On Thornbook you’ll find summaries of her major works, where ambition, identity, isolation, and moral responsibility collide.

Quick Facts

Nationality: English

Known for: Gothic fiction and early science fiction

Major themes: Creation, responsibility, identity, isolation, human nature

What Shelley Writes About

Morality / Ethics: the cost of ambition and the duty of creators

Identity: belonging, self-worth, and being judged by appearance

Isolation: loneliness that hardens into anger and despair

Human Nature: compassion, cruelty, and what shapes “monsters”

Good vs Evil: blurred lines between victim and villain

Guilt: consequences that echo long after one terrible choice

Most Famous Books

Frankenstein – a creator abandons his creation, unleashing tragedy and revenge.

The Last Man – a bleak future shaped by loss, survival, and the end of hope.

Mathilda – grief and isolation told through an intensely personal voice.

Where to Start

Best first read: Frankenstein

If you want apocalyptic fiction: The Last Man

Why Read Mary Shelley?

Shelley’s work is thrilling, emotional, and surprisingly modern. She turns horror into moral questions—about responsibility, loneliness, and what happens when love and empathy are denied.

If You Like Mary Shelley, Try

Bram Stoker

Edgar Allan Poe

Robert Louis Stevenson

H. G. Wells