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Percy Shelley
Shelley - Tome 2 - Mary Shelley
Le danger m'attend et je le salue comme un ami. .
68 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 26, 2019
My thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for a review copy of this book.
This graphic novel is the second volume on Shelley’s life (I read and reviewed the first a few months ago), and written from the point Mary Shelley takes more of a centre stage in the ‘story’, picks up in 1814, where the first volume left off. Percy had fallen in love with Mary Godwin, and with her and her sister Claire Clairmont were about to elope. As this story opens, the four travel to Europe, struggling with money troubles, and living an itinerant life, and seeking adventure. In Europe, first Claire and then Mary and Percy join Byron (that is they take a house next door, and visit constantly). Here also joined by Byron’s doctor Polidori, the little group enjoys themselves with conversations and walks until the weather turns inclement. And so comes the famous time when each of them takes on the challenge of writing a horror tale—we see Polidori narrating his Vampyre, and then Mary being inspired to write Frankenstein—the task more or less taking possession of her. Each of the group’s complicated relationships and moralities are also explored. But then the story takes a rather odd turn, which made me stop and actually look up what was happening—instead of continuing as a biography, it moves into the world of fiction, and more specifically Mary Shelley’s The Last Man, the devastation caused by the plague and the depths to which people can fall even amidst such disaster, with the Shelleys and Byron taking on a central role among the last few survivors.
I really enjoyed the first volume of this series and thought it a very cute way to getting to know a little about Shelley’s life and work. This second volume opens the same way, and up until the time in Villa Diodati, where all of them composed or began to compose their horror stories remains on this track, and this part I enjoyed very much, as much as I did the first volume. In fact, the composition of Frankenstein, etc. was a part of this book that I was looking forward to very much and I was glad that the authors included it in detail, and went a little into the works, and also tried to imagine the kind of conversations the Shelleys, Byron, and Polidori might have had in their time there. But then the story’s turn towards the fictional gave it a very weird feel which while interesting in a way didn’t make any sense to me in this book, especially considering the way the two volumes proceeded from the start. If the authors had chosen to take a fictional path entirely or from the start combined fact and fiction, it might have still worked but when one is reading something biographical, even if done with humour as these books have been (the art work too is caricature-like, which was fun), one kind of expects it to continue that way, and it is a touch disappointing when it doesn’t. I enjoyed the first part of the book a lot, and while the second was done imaginatively, and was interesting, it just didn’t seem to ‘fit’. 3 stars for this one!
The book released on 17 April 2019 in English!
This review is also on my blog: https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
This graphic novel is the second volume on Shelley’s life (I read and reviewed the first a few months ago), and written from the point Mary Shelley takes more of a centre stage in the ‘story’, picks up in 1814, where the first volume left off. Percy had fallen in love with Mary Godwin, and with her and her sister Claire Clairmont were about to elope. As this story opens, the four travel to Europe, struggling with money troubles, and living an itinerant life, and seeking adventure. In Europe, first Claire and then Mary and Percy join Byron (that is they take a house next door, and visit constantly). Here also joined by Byron’s doctor Polidori, the little group enjoys themselves with conversations and walks until the weather turns inclement. And so comes the famous time when each of them takes on the challenge of writing a horror tale—we see Polidori narrating his Vampyre, and then Mary being inspired to write Frankenstein—the task more or less taking possession of her. Each of the group’s complicated relationships and moralities are also explored. But then the story takes a rather odd turn, which made me stop and actually look up what was happening—instead of continuing as a biography, it moves into the world of fiction, and more specifically Mary Shelley’s The Last Man, the devastation caused by the plague and the depths to which people can fall even amidst such disaster, with the Shelleys and Byron taking on a central role among the last few survivors.
I really enjoyed the first volume of this series and thought it a very cute way to getting to know a little about Shelley’s life and work. This second volume opens the same way, and up until the time in Villa Diodati, where all of them composed or began to compose their horror stories remains on this track, and this part I enjoyed very much, as much as I did the first volume. In fact, the composition of Frankenstein, etc. was a part of this book that I was looking forward to very much and I was glad that the authors included it in detail, and went a little into the works, and also tried to imagine the kind of conversations the Shelleys, Byron, and Polidori might have had in their time there. But then the story’s turn towards the fictional gave it a very weird feel which while interesting in a way didn’t make any sense to me in this book, especially considering the way the two volumes proceeded from the start. If the authors had chosen to take a fictional path entirely or from the start combined fact and fiction, it might have still worked but when one is reading something biographical, even if done with humour as these books have been (the art work too is caricature-like, which was fun), one kind of expects it to continue that way, and it is a touch disappointing when it doesn’t. I enjoyed the first part of the book a lot, and while the second was done imaginatively, and was interesting, it just didn’t seem to ‘fit’. 3 stars for this one!
The book released on 17 April 2019 in English!
This review is also on my blog: https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
June 22, 2019
It was a pleasure to read second part of "Percy Shelley" series. In this part we spent more time with his wife Mary, the author of "Frankenstein" Frankenstein. We follow young couple on their perilous journey to freedom and independence. It turns out to be also a journey to poverty and disillusionment. Mary and her sister are lured into Percy's world. Under his influence Mary starts to create herself.
Many tragic events occur during this comic book, but we don't get to see the death of Percy Shelley. We only see glimpses of his infidelity, friendship with Lord Byron, poor health, creative struggles. That was a treat to encounter Lord Byron at last and read about his reckless and bawdy behaviour. Mary tries to make a life for herself dealing with heartache, limited means and her awkward position as Percy's mistress and a social outcast. We see Mary at the end of the comic book writing her best novel "Frankenstein" and reading it to friends. Then the story changes dramatically and instead of showing real life events turns into pure fiction. It shows more or less the events of another Mary's novel "The Last Man" The Last Man. I heard about this book, but haven't read it. It is an apocalyptic vision of the whole humanity dying from pandemic. The last woman standing is Mary Shelley, who travels the world on her own, looking for other survivors, but encountering not a living soul. Her only companion is a stray dog. It is fictional, but ample description of Mary's life. She was surrounded by desolation and demise. It was in a way a relief that the comic book ended with fiction instead of telling about her real life and death of Percy.
To sum up: the story was enjoyable and the artwork was beautiful.
I received "Mary Shelley" from the publisher via NetGalley. I would like to thank the authors and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the book.
Many tragic events occur during this comic book, but we don't get to see the death of Percy Shelley. We only see glimpses of his infidelity, friendship with Lord Byron, poor health, creative struggles. That was a treat to encounter Lord Byron at last and read about his reckless and bawdy behaviour. Mary tries to make a life for herself dealing with heartache, limited means and her awkward position as Percy's mistress and a social outcast. We see Mary at the end of the comic book writing her best novel "Frankenstein" and reading it to friends. Then the story changes dramatically and instead of showing real life events turns into pure fiction. It shows more or less the events of another Mary's novel "The Last Man" The Last Man. I heard about this book, but haven't read it. It is an apocalyptic vision of the whole humanity dying from pandemic. The last woman standing is Mary Shelley, who travels the world on her own, looking for other survivors, but encountering not a living soul. Her only companion is a stray dog. It is fictional, but ample description of Mary's life. She was surrounded by desolation and demise. It was in a way a relief that the comic book ended with fiction instead of telling about her real life and death of Percy.
To sum up: the story was enjoyable and the artwork was beautiful.
I received "Mary Shelley" from the publisher via NetGalley. I would like to thank the authors and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the book.
May 7, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw this graphic novel on Netgalley I immediately downloaded it since I read the first volume a few months ago.
Unfortunately I must say that I didn't enjoy this book. It was fine in the first part because it mostly followed the true story and events of Mary and Percy Shelley but then things started to get weird. I don't why but at one point the story morphed from reality to fiction and Mary, Percy Shelley and Byron became the characters of The last man by Mary Shelley herself. The second half of the book had many similarities with the plot of this novel. I didn't like this choice.
When I saw this graphic novel on Netgalley I immediately downloaded it since I read the first volume a few months ago.
Unfortunately I must say that I didn't enjoy this book. It was fine in the first part because it mostly followed the true story and events of Mary and Percy Shelley but then things started to get weird. I don't why but at one point the story morphed from reality to fiction and Mary, Percy Shelley and Byron became the characters of The last man by Mary Shelley herself. The second half of the book had many similarities with the plot of this novel. I didn't like this choice.
May 12, 2019
Thank you to the creators and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this comic.
I started reading not knowing exactly what I had in my hands, I am a Romanticist, so I was obviously excited to read about my people, only to realise there was little of the real them at the core of this book. The story begins with the first of the Shelley-Wollstonecraft-Clairmont European tours, which made me think this was a biographical account. I couldn't be more wrong! The authors have used certain biographical elements to create their own story: and, in my opinion, it is not a very good story (it is not original, it doesn't bring anything to the table*, it is not entertaining). The writing isn't good either (which might be an issue with the translation) and the characterization is poor at best: the male characters are given some archetypical features that vaguely resemble what has permeated popular culture of their actual character (Byron is a dick, Shelley a naive idealist), the women... are empty smiling vessels. [SPOILERS AHEAD] *I have several issues with the idea of the surviving (civilised) people starting anew in Versailles. This is 1816, how... dare you...? Everything from this point onwards just goes downhill: Allegra Byron is a boy in this story, only because they needed Byron to, at one point, call her/him "the heir apparent". God forbid the baby were a girl! We don't want a new world where girls can be heirs apparent! Which brings me to my next point: civilisation is decimated and you... establish a constitutional monarchy? Which then the c18 most famous republicans (and an anarchist) fully support and integrate? And that's not even the worst thing! There are "groups of primitive uncivilised people" called "monkeys" that contrast with the elevated, pure surviving aristocrats in Versailles.
Just... no.
I started reading not knowing exactly what I had in my hands, I am a Romanticist, so I was obviously excited to read about my people, only to realise there was little of the real them at the core of this book. The story begins with the first of the Shelley-Wollstonecraft-Clairmont European tours, which made me think this was a biographical account. I couldn't be more wrong! The authors have used certain biographical elements to create their own story: and, in my opinion, it is not a very good story (it is not original, it doesn't bring anything to the table*, it is not entertaining). The writing isn't good either (which might be an issue with the translation) and the characterization is poor at best: the male characters are given some archetypical features that vaguely resemble what has permeated popular culture of their actual character (Byron is a dick, Shelley a naive idealist), the women... are empty smiling vessels. [SPOILERS AHEAD] *I have several issues with the idea of the surviving (civilised) people starting anew in Versailles. This is 1816, how... dare you...? Everything from this point onwards just goes downhill: Allegra Byron is a boy in this story, only because they needed Byron to, at one point, call her/him "the heir apparent". God forbid the baby were a girl! We don't want a new world where girls can be heirs apparent! Which brings me to my next point: civilisation is decimated and you... establish a constitutional monarchy? Which then the c18 most famous republicans (and an anarchist) fully support and integrate? And that's not even the worst thing! There are "groups of primitive uncivilised people" called "monkeys" that contrast with the elevated, pure surviving aristocrats in Versailles.
Just... no.
May 18, 2019
Although the bilogy focuses and starts with real events, it deviates from history quickly, focusing instead on a representation of Mary's feelings of devastation, loss and pain. She for sure had an interesting life, but I couldn't quite get into this retelling of her life, maybe for the art used. It was a nice combination, though, but didn't work that much for me.
May 14, 2019
'Mary Shelley' with words and art by David Vandermeulen is part 2 of a historical fiction graphic novel. I enjoyed the first part about poet Percy Bysse Shelley, and I was looking forward to seeing how Mary Shelley's story was going to be told.
Percy and Mary are in love, but Mary's father disapproves. He's probably right. Percy is a womanizer and really bad at managing money and travel. When travel mishaps with the couple and Mary's sister Claire lead them to Switzerland and Lord Byron, we read the events leading up to the haunted Summer where the novel Frankenstein was born. Then the story takes a weird abrupt turn.
I liked the first graphic novel and the first half of this one. Historical fiction can take some liberties with events and this one does, but then it heads off into apocalyptic territory and I didn't hate it, but it just left me scratching my head. I like the art well enough. I just wish the author had stayed true with the work previously done in the first book.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Percy and Mary are in love, but Mary's father disapproves. He's probably right. Percy is a womanizer and really bad at managing money and travel. When travel mishaps with the couple and Mary's sister Claire lead them to Switzerland and Lord Byron, we read the events leading up to the haunted Summer where the novel Frankenstein was born. Then the story takes a weird abrupt turn.
I liked the first graphic novel and the first half of this one. Historical fiction can take some liberties with events and this one does, but then it heads off into apocalyptic territory and I didn't hate it, but it just left me scratching my head. I like the art well enough. I just wish the author had stayed true with the work previously done in the first book.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
May 11, 2019
The true story of the Romance poets and Mary Shelly and her ilk makes good fodder for a great story, so I was looking forward to this second book in the series.
It starts off well, with Mary follow Percy to France and then to Switzerland, where she will write Frankenstien.
But then, the story goes off the rails, from based on actual fact, to putting Mary into her other novel, The Last Man, where the plague wipes out civilization. We see her wandering around the world without people.
Why? Why do that? The real life of Mary Shelley is fascinating, the characters quirky, and it could have made a great second book.
So, no, I can't recommend it. It isn't what it says on the tin.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review
It starts off well, with Mary follow Percy to France and then to Switzerland, where she will write Frankenstien.
But then, the story goes off the rails, from based on actual fact, to putting Mary into her other novel, The Last Man, where the plague wipes out civilization. We see her wandering around the world without people.
Why? Why do that? The real life of Mary Shelley is fascinating, the characters quirky, and it could have made a great second book.
So, no, I can't recommend it. It isn't what it says on the tin.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review
May 13, 2019
I recieved this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the first graphic novel in this series, so I was excited to pick up number 2. The story was fine until it when off the rails into a crazy dystopian mess. I thought this was supposed to be semi autobiographical but wow it's not. Won't be continuing.
I really enjoyed the first graphic novel in this series, so I was excited to pick up number 2. The story was fine until it when off the rails into a crazy dystopian mess. I thought this was supposed to be semi autobiographical but wow it's not. Won't be continuing.
May 28, 2019
Thank you to Europe Comics for making available a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Shelley - Volume 2 - Mary Shelley’. The text is by David Vandermeulen and the artwork by Daniel Casanave. It is translated by James Hogan.
In February I had read and enjoyed very much the first volume of this series and was very pleased to see the second volume was available in English.
There is a continuity in the artwork though I found as the story progressed it became rather wordy. Also, while the first part of the story roughly followed events in the life of the Shelleys, when they came into contact with Lord Byron and his companion, Claire Clairmont, who was also Mary’s stepsister, more liberties were taken.
Yet these departures were mild given that just after half way through as Mary is about to share ‘Frankenstein’ with the group gathered at Lake Geneva, the text abandons any relationship to history and enters into the scenario of Mary’s 1826 semi-biographical dystopian novel, ‘The Last Man’.
While I can appreciate having Mary become a character in her own novel and acting out with her companions the events of her lesser known novel about the end of the world was interesting creatively, it seemed strange and I imagine quite confusing for some readers.
I wish that some context was provided about why the switch was made from a light-hearted fictional biography to this more experimental format.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
In February I had read and enjoyed very much the first volume of this series and was very pleased to see the second volume was available in English.
There is a continuity in the artwork though I found as the story progressed it became rather wordy. Also, while the first part of the story roughly followed events in the life of the Shelleys, when they came into contact with Lord Byron and his companion, Claire Clairmont, who was also Mary’s stepsister, more liberties were taken.
Yet these departures were mild given that just after half way through as Mary is about to share ‘Frankenstein’ with the group gathered at Lake Geneva, the text abandons any relationship to history and enters into the scenario of Mary’s 1826 semi-biographical dystopian novel, ‘The Last Man’.
While I can appreciate having Mary become a character in her own novel and acting out with her companions the events of her lesser known novel about the end of the world was interesting creatively, it seemed strange and I imagine quite confusing for some readers.
I wish that some context was provided about why the switch was made from a light-hearted fictional biography to this more experimental format.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
May 17, 2019
Mary Shelley is the genre-bending conclusion to the two-part comic biography Shelley by David Vandermeulen and Daniel Casanave. It picks up the history of Romantic poet Percy Byshee Shelley and teenage Mary Godwin Wollstonecraft in 1814 as the couple depart England for the continent.
As with the first book, Percy is portrayed as both sympathetic and repellent: an adulterer and financial leech, yet brimming with infectious joie de vivre.
Their travels take them to Villa Diodati in Switzerland where one stormy night Lord Byron challenges the house-guests to write ghost stories - an evening’s entertainment which not only sparks Frankenstein but the modern vampire novel as well.
Curiously, Mary is immediately silenced as she prepares to read her story and the comic veers from history and plunges into the world of Mary’s 1826-novel The Last Man. In a mind-bending Möbius strip, Mary henceforth represents her hero Lionel Verney who was originally based on Mary herself - and she tramps widowed and woebegone through Europe as the last woman on the planet, the only apparent human survivor of a devastating plague.
At 68 pages, this is a lightning quick, lighthearted amuse-bouche. It is not a comprehensive literary biography, nor a graphic novel - but it may inspire you to read Mary’s travel writing or other novels - and this is, I think, its intention.
As with the first book, Percy is portrayed as both sympathetic and repellent: an adulterer and financial leech, yet brimming with infectious joie de vivre.
Their travels take them to Villa Diodati in Switzerland where one stormy night Lord Byron challenges the house-guests to write ghost stories - an evening’s entertainment which not only sparks Frankenstein but the modern vampire novel as well.
Curiously, Mary is immediately silenced as she prepares to read her story and the comic veers from history and plunges into the world of Mary’s 1826-novel The Last Man. In a mind-bending Möbius strip, Mary henceforth represents her hero Lionel Verney who was originally based on Mary herself - and she tramps widowed and woebegone through Europe as the last woman on the planet, the only apparent human survivor of a devastating plague.
At 68 pages, this is a lightning quick, lighthearted amuse-bouche. It is not a comprehensive literary biography, nor a graphic novel - but it may inspire you to read Mary’s travel writing or other novels - and this is, I think, its intention.
May 25, 2019
The story of the Shelley's seems to be the flavour of the year, as there have been several interpretations of their lives released over the past few months. I liked that volume 1 was from Percy's POV and this one was from Mary's. It was a nice split. However, while Volume 1 was loosely based on historical facts, Volume 2 had a change in direction and told a different story using the historical characters and not following their history. I'm still not entirely sure if the dystopia and destruction of mankind was the story or symbolic of Mary's pain and grief.
On the plus side, I still really liked the art. It is very Tintin-esque, and hot air balloons!! WIN! The downside was the characters were not very likable and I wanted to punch some of them in the face. Percy was a complete buffoon and git and Mary ending up isolated in a deserted wilderland with only a stray dog for a companion is an ideal ending than having to deal with Percy and his crap anymore.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
On the plus side, I still really liked the art. It is very Tintin-esque, and hot air balloons!! WIN! The downside was the characters were not very likable and I wanted to punch some of them in the face. Percy was a complete buffoon and git and Mary ending up isolated in a deserted wilderland with only a stray dog for a companion is an ideal ending than having to deal with Percy and his crap anymore.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
May 24, 2019
Blogger at Momotips
I received a DRC of this graphic novel courtesy of Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!
I liked the first volume as I like second one. The story regarding Percy and Mary Shelley continues, in this second volume they travel around Europe. This second volume, as it was the first one, has vivid colors. From the cover throughout the graphic novel we find nice illustrations that take us through the main events of their lives. In particular Mary’s life, that thanks to these adventures, wrote one of the best novel of every time, Frankenstein. It was a pleasure reading this graphic novel, because it allowed me to learn more about their life together as family, as authors, and understanding better the background where Mary’s most famous novel came to life.
A longer and more accurate review is available at Momotips blog.
I received a DRC of this graphic novel courtesy of Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!
I liked the first volume as I like second one. The story regarding Percy and Mary Shelley continues, in this second volume they travel around Europe. This second volume, as it was the first one, has vivid colors. From the cover throughout the graphic novel we find nice illustrations that take us through the main events of their lives. In particular Mary’s life, that thanks to these adventures, wrote one of the best novel of every time, Frankenstein. It was a pleasure reading this graphic novel, because it allowed me to learn more about their life together as family, as authors, and understanding better the background where Mary’s most famous novel came to life.
A longer and more accurate review is available at Momotips blog.
May 21, 2019
Hmm… I accused the first book in this series of having a little less educational value than it might have, but this is a whole other ball game. Named after Mary Shelley this time, and not Percy, the errant anti-hero of his own book, we get the build-up leading to the night of the ghost stories, and then it all goes completely cockamamie. It might then appeal to certain literate types who relish such japes, but looking at other reviews it didn't, and from my point of view it's just too bonkers to be at all satisfying. If you do wish to come here still, thinking the larks will be based on Frankenstein, or The Vampyre, or anything else borne that night, you're completely wrong. So, like I say, expect disappointment. One and a half stars.
October 29, 2020
The first half of this volume was interesting, but then the second half took a turn from biographical to fiction and it felt very strange and out of place since the first volume seemed to be based on fact and the description of this volume didn't give any hint that the continuing story was meant to be a combo of fact and fiction.
Sadly, because of that, this volume turned out to be disappointing.
Sadly, because of that, this volume turned out to be disappointing.
June 23, 2023
This veers from historical fiction to Mary Shelley's other novel, The Last Man in the second half of the story and it's so off-putting. To go from a real world story to an end of the world scenario just doesn't make any sense. Anyway, even the historical fiction part isn't that great. It's written more for people who already know Shelley's history and can fill in those gaps rather than a real biography.
May 16, 2019
After the first book, this was nothing but a massive letdown. I still like the artwork but that's it. I can not rate this higher than 1,5*
March 17, 2023
Why did this book suddenly become dystopian fiction? I did not see that coming and am unhappy about it. 😕
Read
November 14, 2025well that escalated quickly
November 11, 2021
Il primo tomo era nettamente meglio, questo secondo è un po' noioso. Comunque nel suo insieme è un fumetto abbastanza vicino alla storia degli Shelley, sebbene leggermente romanzato. Non indispensabile comunque. Elisabetta
October 20, 2022
I liked the art and was enjoying this comic as a work of historical fiction, but then it took a left turn into sci-fi/fantasy land and I lost my enthusiasm for the book. Not awful, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Received via NetGalley.
Received via NetGalley.
May 19, 2019
I'm afraid I cannot rate this book positively. I did not like the art - my bad probably and tastes differ, but it makes for a difficult read when you have an entire book based on a style you do not care for. I did not find the story to be particularly accurate either. For example, it relates as matter of fact that Shelley and Mary's stepsister Claire Claremont had an affair and that she got pregnant with his child (based on what? Claire's first child was Lord Byron's illegitimate child, he would have hardly acknowledged another man's bastard). All things considered, I do not think I will read the future installments of this series, but I would not like to discourage others from doing so. Tastes differ and the art that I did not like may be to somebody's else taste.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews