Mary Shelley in Bath

Manderley Press is delighted to announce that the acclaimed poet and historian Fiona Sampson will introduce a brand-new collection of Mary Shelley’s work - all of which was written during, and inspired by, the short yet influential time Mary spent living in the historic literary city of Bath.Step into the intriguing world of Mary Shelley's transformative time in Bath, a period that deeply influenced her literary genius. In Mary Shelley in Bath, we will explore the personal and creative evolution of the renowned author during her stay in this elegant Georgian city.Against the backdrop of Bath's grand architecture, bustling social scene and serene countryside, Shelley grapples with personal loss, burgeoning ideas and the societal constraints of her era.Yet during her time in the city, Shelley finds solace and inspiration, leading to the creation of her iconic novel, Frankenstein."Bath, for Mary, was both a refuge and a place of intense sorrow. Here, amid the society of strangers, she faced the devastating loss of those closest to her, and it was within these elegant streets that her private griefs shaped the darkest corners of her imagination."- Miranda Seymour, in Mary Shelley (2000)This collection of her journals and letters - as well as the chapter of Frankenstein that Mary penned during her stay in Bath, and additional short stories inspired by her time living there - reveals to us the true nature of her closest relationships, the influence of the city's intellectual circles on her work and the profound impact of Bath's haunting beauty on her imagination."Bath, with its air of elegance and refinement, offered little comfort to Mary. Here, amidst its superficial gaiety, she was confronted by the shadows of death and despair, with each tragedy pressing more heavily on her fragile spirit."- Muriel Spark, in Mary Shelley (1951)Mary Shelley in Bath thus explores how a place can shape a writer's life and work, offering readers a deeper understanding of the woman behind one of literature's most enduring masterpieces. Discover through her work the city that helped to forge a literary legend.This book has been beautifully illustrated by local-to-Bath artist Eleanor Macnair, who used one of the portraits of Mary Shelley in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London, as inspiration for her own composition of the author sculpted from Play-Doh