The Dream

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

The Dream (“Il sogno”) è un racconto gotico scritto da Mary Shelley e pubblicato per la prima volta sull’annuario letterario «The Keepsake» nel 1832. Era accompagnato da un’illustrazione dipinta da Louisa Sharpe e incisa da Charles Heath. Da allora è stato ristampato in diverse antologie. La riproduzione di un manoscritto olografico del racconto, conservata nella Carl H. Pforzheimer Library di New York, mostra come Mary Shelley abbia modificato la versione originale del racconto per adattare meglio il personaggio di Constance all’illustrazione di Louisa Sharpe. Ambientato in Francia intorno al volgere del XVII secolo, è la storia di una giovane donna, la contessa Constance di Villeneuve, innamorata di Gaspar de Vaudemont, figlio del nemico di suo padre. Poiché i loro padri si erano uccisi l’un l’altro in battaglia, Constance è divisa tra il suo amore per Gaspar e il senso del dovere nei confronti del defunto padre.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, Gothic, Ebooks, Romance

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1832

About the author

Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, often known as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, travel writer, and editor of the works of her husband, Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. She was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the writer, philosopher, and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.

Mary Shelley was taken seriously as a writer in her own lifetime, though reviewers often missed the political edge to her novels. After her death, however, she was chiefly remembered only as the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein. It was not until 1989, when Emily Sunstein published her prizewinning biography Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality, that a full-length scholarly biography analyzing all of Shelley's letters, journals, and works within their historical context was published.

The well-meaning attempts of Mary Shelley's son and daughter-in-law to "Victorianise" her memory through the censoring of letters and biographical material contributed to a perception of Mary Shelley as a more conventional, less reformist figure than her works suggest. Her own timid omissions from Percy Shelley's works and her quiet avoidance of public controversy in the later years of her life added to this impression.

The eclipse of Mary Shelley's reputation as a novelist and biographer meant that, until the last thirty years, most of her works remained out of print, obstructing a larger view of her achievement. She was seen as a one-novel author, if that. In recent decades, however, the republication of almost all her writings has stimulated a new recognition of its value. Her voracious reading habits and intensive study, revealed in her journals and letters and reflected in her works, is now better appreciated. Shelley's recognition of herself as an author has also been recognized; after Percy's death, she wrote about her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea". Scholars now consider Mary Shelley to be a major Romantic figure, significant for her literary achievement and her political voice as a woman and a liberal.

Reviews

[Jesús De la Jara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ninguna estatua labrada en mármol de efigie monumental fue nunca la mitad de hermosa; y dentro de aquella incomparable forma moraba un alma verdadera, tierna, sacrificada y afectuosa, como jamás albergó pecho humano"

No es la mejor historia del mundo pero me ha gustado bastante, desde luego es simple por la extensión del relato que más bien es un cuento, sin embargo tiene una trama interesante y romántica. Desde luego está el matiz gótico inspirado esta vez en algo religioso: el lecho de Santa Catalina que ayuda a tener visiones sobre el porvenir.
El ambiente histórico está en la Francia post guerras de religión de la época del famoso rey Enrique IV, quien gozaba de la aprobación de contemporáneos y posteriores sobre lo que significaba ser un buen rey (y quizás de Mary Shelley, quien como otras inglesas tenía una atracción por los temas franceses), donde la protagonista Constance, condesa de Villeneuve, tras haber perdido a su familia en la Guerra de Religión duda sobre lo que debe hacer aunque Gaspar, un joven protestante enemigo de su familia, la quiere desde hace mucho.
El desenlace de este enredo constituye el cuento que me pareció una pequeña muestra de romántico - gótico excelente.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read something else by Mary Shelley that isn't Frankenstein. I've read a few other things from her. It was enjoyable enough but I'm not in awe of her writing. But she was a talented writer just not a favorite of mine.

[M. Cadena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curiosito

[Jacques · Rating 5 out of 5]

My introduction to Mary Shelley. While the plot is rather dull and not in my taste range, the prose is gorgeous and pulled me along. I can appreciate how her writing style is the real highlight of this short story. At least, for me.

[Junaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think it will help me to understand mary views

[Giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il sogno è un racconto breve ma sorprendentemente denso, capace di racchiudere in poche pagine quell’atmosfera gotica, malinconica e visionaria che rende Mary Shelley una voce unica della letteratura romantica.
Pur non avendo l’ampiezza narrativa di Frankenstein, il testo colpisce per la sua intensità emotiva e per la capacità di trasformare l’esperienza onirica in uno spazio di riflessione sull’animo umano, sulla paura e sul confine sottile tra realtà e immaginazione.
Lo stile è elegante, evocativo, ricco di immagini quasi pittoriche: Shelley dimostra ancora una volta la sua abilità nel creare ambientazioni sospese, dove il sogno non è semplice evasione, ma rivelazione interiore. Si avverte una vena di inquietudine dolce, più psicologica che horror, che accompagna il lettore fino alla fine lasciando una sensazione di mistero irrisolto.
Il punto di forza del racconto è proprio questa atmosfera: delicata ma oscura, intima e universale allo stesso tempo.
L’unico limite può essere la brevità, che lascia il desiderio di restare più a lungo dentro quel mondo suggestivo. Tuttavia è anche ciò che lo rende prezioso: un piccolo gioiello letterario da assaporare lentamente.
Una lettura consigliata a chi ama il romanticismo gotico, le sfumature emotive profonde e la scrittura raffinata. Mary Shelley conferma qui la sua capacità di parlare ai sogni di ogni epoca.

[Lucía ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

definitivamente volveré a leerlo cuando consiga una copia en español. te amo mary pero no entiendo un coño tu inglés

[Zen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An o.k. story but not one of my favorites.

It's one of Mary Shelley's Love Stories, of which she wrote many. And most of which have slipped out my mind after a few years.

Not really my thing after all. I prefer her creepier stuff.

This one has a Gothic setting to it, but it's just background and is peripheral to the main drama of the Love Story.

The idea of spending a restless night on St. Catherine's Couch, high on a ledge, on an edge overlooking the Loire River is, I admit, kind of cool and creepy. I just wish Mary Shelley had developed the idea a bit. Maybe throw in a Ghost or some other Terror, just to give it a bit of a Creep Factor.

The spooky dream Constance has is o.k., just a little underwhelming.

The point of the story, of course, is not the night spent sleeping on St. Catherine's Couch, or even The Dream itself, but the moment when Gaspar, Constance's one and only true love, rescues her from falling into the river.

And thus Constance awakes from the fright of her Dream, held aloft in Gaspar's manly arms. And Constance realizes that they are destined to spend the rest of their lives in Love's True Embrace.

Kind of makes you choke up a bit, doesn't it.

[Marcos Ibáñez Gordillo · Rating 2 out of 5]

"...la de ella era la peor pena, que destroza gozos pasados, haciendo al remordimiento cebarse en la promesa de felicidad, uniendo amor y culpa como el tirano que ata un cuerpo vivo al de un cadáver para que lo lastre hasta el fondo del abismo."

Este cuentecito es un manual de la estética romántica y gótica metiendo tantos tropos en tan cortas páginas que ya casi que sabes lo que va a pasar.
Con eso y todo, tiene su encanto pa cogerlo así aislado.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Dream” ****
Captivating!
“.. and that while angers surrounded her in every shape, she was alive only to a still small voice that whispered to her heart the dream which was to decide their destinies.”

[Surfy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen libro, vale la pena leerlo pues es cortito; amé el audiolibro por los efectos especiales que me ayudaron a adentrarme más en la historia, el sonido del bosque y el agua fueron muy relajantes y envolventes.

Recomiendo mucho el audiolibro de la editorial “Saga” narrado por Eva Coll.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

[Glenn Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was poetically beautiful, but the story line itself of a maiden giving herself to a nunnery due to the loss of her loved ones, rather than marry a knight was not interesting for me

[Cynthia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished reading over a month ago. It was good.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

La amo

[mastigahra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Todo aquello que parecía alegre por sí mismo, o hermoso en apariencia, sólo servía para renovar su pesar".

[Larrry G · Rating 3 out of 5]

where oh where does the creative monstrous part come into play?

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook
Part of a compilation book.

[⛧⸸ dennis ⸸⛧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was surprisingly adorable, I frankly did not expect such a sweet love tale from Mary Shelley 🥺

[Lullaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It cannot be that misery so intense should dwell in any heart, and no cure be found”

[izanahorias · Rating 4 out of 5]

que bonito escribe mary shelley pero que gracioso me parece que mi profe de inglés piense que tenemos nivel para leer esto.

[Trauermaerchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid read but I don't think it quite captures Shelley's charm as her longer works.

[Zoë Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wildd ride

[Laura Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had no idea what was going on the entire time

[Chantel · Rating 2 out of 5]

What had me come upon the story of a woman lost to her grief; a woman set on abandoning herself to the cloistered halls of the church? I had hoped to find a different story than the one held behind the title of this one. The author's reputation had me believe that this short story would be eerie & gruelling. Whereas, in reality, this story was short, isolated, disillusioning, & rather dull.

At face value, none of these comments are necessarily insightful. They don’t encourage nor discourage a reader from this story. I wouldn’t know where to begin explaining this title's intention or plot to anyone. Once upon a time, a young lady lived in a giant castle in France with a silly little housemaid who was worried sick over the dramatics of the fair lady. Thankfully, the theatrical main character—Constance—is friends with the King. After deciding that she cannot wed the love of her life, because he was involved in the same war that saw her brother & father killed, Constance decides that she will become a nun.

I did laugh at some parts of this story. Constance’s will is immovable. The story presents an interesting dilemma though, this is perhaps shielded by the time period in which this story takes place. Constance seems not to care about the fact that her social well-being is dictated by the males of her society. She seems to move about life completely unaware of the fact that, at any moment, they could lock her away or send her off to marry the troll under any number of bridges.

Whilst Constance ponders her decision—whether to marry the love of her life or become a devout religious representative—the King endeavours to change her mind. He sends her lover back to the property in an attempt to whisk her away. They cry, they argue, & Constance runs away in worry. It’s all very melodramatic, the point is; Constance loves someone, even though she knows he has done wrong.

This review is very short because I have nothing of substance to say. Constance sleeps on a rocky peak in the hopes that the tales of clarity & visions are true; someone else will tell her what to do. I suppose that within the indecision we see how complicated it must have been—it remains—to follow one's heart. What if the decision we make is the wrong one? Ultimately, Constance’s dreams show her how sad she would be if she lost out on love; how dreadful life would be without the man she cared so much for. They live happily ever after.

The writing style was lovely & immersive but, ultimately, I didn’t care. I couldn’t care about what happened because I was disconnected from the setting. I don’t very much enjoy medieval period pieces & therefore I found myself wondering where Constance acquired the freedom to wander around at leisure, sleeping on widows-peak rock formations, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. I know others will find much to appreciate in this story, but this wasn’t my thing.

If you would like to read this story, please visit this •LINK•

[sangriacousin · Rating 1 out of 5]

difficult to follow why was constance doing the most