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Shelley Unbound: Discovering Frankenstein's True Creator
Frankenstein was first released in 1818 ... anonymously .
The softly spoken or unspoken admission of many experts in English literature is that Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was not entirely responsible for writing Frankenstein however the credit to her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley is generally limited to 4,000-5,000 words. In Dr. de Hart's Shelley Unbound , Oxford educated researcher and scholar, Scott D. de Hart examines the overlooked educational, biographical, alchemical, political, and scientific background of Percy Shelley. The author explores Shelley's scientific avocations, his disputes against church and state, and his connection to the illegal and infamous anti-Catholic organization, the Illuminati which provides the critical background to Frankenstein, a novel which only Percy Bysshe Shelley might have pulled off - or wanted to - in his predictable anonymous fashion.
Scott D. de Hart's fascinating investigation into Frankenstein and the lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Percy Shelley results in an inconvenient truth regarding what we have long believed to be a great early example of the feminist canon. This book is accessible to students of all ages, high school and college teachers, fans of horror fiction, graduate students, and also for those in the scholastic community. It is a fascinating and highly interesting read for all.
Scott D. de Hart was born and raised in Southern California. Dr. de Hart studied for his doctoral degree at the University of Oxford and obtained his Ph.D. specializing in nineteenth-century English literature, theology, and legal controversies.
The softly spoken or unspoken admission of many experts in English literature is that Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was not entirely responsible for writing Frankenstein however the credit to her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley is generally limited to 4,000-5,000 words. In Dr. de Hart's Shelley Unbound , Oxford educated researcher and scholar, Scott D. de Hart examines the overlooked educational, biographical, alchemical, political, and scientific background of Percy Shelley. The author explores Shelley's scientific avocations, his disputes against church and state, and his connection to the illegal and infamous anti-Catholic organization, the Illuminati which provides the critical background to Frankenstein, a novel which only Percy Bysshe Shelley might have pulled off - or wanted to - in his predictable anonymous fashion.
Scott D. de Hart's fascinating investigation into Frankenstein and the lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Percy Shelley results in an inconvenient truth regarding what we have long believed to be a great early example of the feminist canon. This book is accessible to students of all ages, high school and college teachers, fans of horror fiction, graduate students, and also for those in the scholastic community. It is a fascinating and highly interesting read for all.
Scott D. de Hart was born and raised in Southern California. Dr. de Hart studied for his doctoral degree at the University of Oxford and obtained his Ph.D. specializing in nineteenth-century English literature, theology, and legal controversies.
- GenresNonfiction
183 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 8, 2013
This book was a readable, convincing argument for Percy Bysshe Shelley's authorship of Frankenstein. De Hart uses Shelley's writing habits, life experiences, and belief systems to create evidence for this conflict with history's acceptance of Mary as the author. If you love Frankenstein or Shelley, the book warrants a thorough reading.
However, I never much cared for Frankenstein and often found it suspicious that a 19-year-old girl in the presence of already great writers would have dreamed up a tale of early science and human nature on her own. And while I don't mind Shelley, neither do I adore him. So I admit to skipping through some sections that I felt were heavy handed. However, the first chapter had me convinced of Percy Shelley's authorship without much effort. The evidence seems clear, and any contradiction would, at this point, seem to be an unfair twisting of the facts.
De Hart makes it clear that he understands why scholars cling to the idea of Mary Shelley's authorship and how it can be dangerous to try to wrench female authorship from one of the cannon's great books. But neither does it do the legacy of women writers any good to credit work to them which isn't their own. To be clear, this book wasn't intended to restore authorship to Percy Bysshe Shelley as an act of justice; rather, it meant to delve more deeply into the psychology behind Frankenstein and reveal more about two of literature's most famous figures. This work creates a stronger understanding of the events that led to the writing of the famous Gothic novel, how Mary Shelley was an accomplice in her husband's scheme, and why it is important that we understand why the book was written at all.
However, I never much cared for Frankenstein and often found it suspicious that a 19-year-old girl in the presence of already great writers would have dreamed up a tale of early science and human nature on her own. And while I don't mind Shelley, neither do I adore him. So I admit to skipping through some sections that I felt were heavy handed. However, the first chapter had me convinced of Percy Shelley's authorship without much effort. The evidence seems clear, and any contradiction would, at this point, seem to be an unfair twisting of the facts.
De Hart makes it clear that he understands why scholars cling to the idea of Mary Shelley's authorship and how it can be dangerous to try to wrench female authorship from one of the cannon's great books. But neither does it do the legacy of women writers any good to credit work to them which isn't their own. To be clear, this book wasn't intended to restore authorship to Percy Bysshe Shelley as an act of justice; rather, it meant to delve more deeply into the psychology behind Frankenstein and reveal more about two of literature's most famous figures. This work creates a stronger understanding of the events that led to the writing of the famous Gothic novel, how Mary Shelley was an accomplice in her husband's scheme, and why it is important that we understand why the book was written at all.
February 22, 2020
I am totally convinced PBS wrote or at least had significant influence in the writing of Frankenstein. Mary did not have the breadth or depth of knowledge that her worldly well educated husband had.
Additionally the narrative reflects the ethos and themes present in Shelley’s other works.
Additionally the narrative reflects the ethos and themes present in Shelley’s other works.
April 23, 2015
Convincingly argued, and fascinating theory. However, the same points could've been covered in a long essay, without the need for an entire book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews