Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley

Frankenstein Diaries: The Romantics

By: Michael January, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Narrated by: Heidi Gregory

The real love story of Frankenstein!

In 1814, 16-year-old Mary Godwin fell in love with the 22-year-old married poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and in spite of the condemnation of their families and society, ran away to Paris, taking Mary's 15-year-old stepsister, Claire, with them, chased by the law and Mary's hated stepmother.

Two teenage girls and the romantic poet of "free love" would walk across France, ravaged by war in the defeat of Napoleon, to Switzerland and up the Rhine River to a castle called Frankenstein on an intimate journey of love, sexual awakening, and self-discovery. There they would find the real inspiration for the most famous name in literature.

Released from a promise to keep portions of the journey secret, Mary Shelley lays her soul bare in the intimacy of love, loss, and betrayal, the search for a mother's validation, and inspiration as a woman artist discovering her voice.

©2015 Michael January (P)2018 Michael January

Secret Memoirs

An enjoyable book to listen to.This is a well written account of Mary Shellys early life.Her sister is infatuated with Shelley.On a journey far from home she ,Clare,shows jus how out of touch she is with the world.Heidi Gregory was the perfect narator.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

Headstrong, Hedonistic and Happy

Headstrong, Hedonistic and Happy--Well, mostly happy. There's the issue of laudanum addiction, and Claire's behavior, and the severe lack of funds. If one didn't know the events had, in fact, occurred (enhanced, perhaps? I'd love to see the source documents!), one would think they were a bonnie fiction put out by a Regency Romance novelist. One can see at once the fertile imagination of the young Mary as well as many of the sources of her inspiration to write her horror novel. As delightfully narrated by Heidi Gregory, you are with the three young people as they travel through France, Switzerland, and by boat down the Rhine. Travelogue, history lesson and romance in one!

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Adventure

Embellished based on papers belonging to Mary Shelley this book tells the story of Mary's trip through Europe with Percy and her half sister. Full of interesting people, the politics of the era and many beautiful settings described in considerable detail, the story allows the listener to become much better acquainted with both Mary and her poet lover (and later husband). According to the story, this trip provided her with much of the local knowledge and materials she later used to write her famous novel.
I loved the history, the naivety of the teen-age Mary, the precociousness of her younger sister and the character of the often obtuse Percy Shelley.
A wonderfully entertaining story and a must for students of post-Revolutionary France and the Romantic poets.
Heidi Gregory provides a completely convincing narration as Mary Shelley in this first person narrative.
Well worth your time.

An Interesting Insight of Frankenstein's Creator

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

These found diaries of Mary Shelley will transport you back to a time when to be different, was only leading to ostracism. And that is exactly what happens to a teenager Mary Wallstonecraft when she falls in love with the romantic figure of an already unhappily married Percy Shelley. Their escape to a more forgiving society and their attempt to practice the doctrine of free love, are not without heartbreaks. From those experiences however is born one of the most loved classics of all times that might not have been created if Mary had lead a more conventional life and had not received the constant encouragement of her beloved Percy. The rendition of these memoirs is great and the narration emphasizes Mary's life events. A good listening experience.

FASCINATING ACCOUNT OF MARY SHELLEY'S EARLY LIFE

Mary Godwin meets and falls in love with Percy Bysshe Shelley, and to escape their families' condemnation flee to France with her younger stepsister. I loved the story, I felt like I was there, back in the early 1800's in post-revolutionary France, feeling the love, the turmoil, the fear.... but with most painful or life-changing experiences, they can become inspiration for great works of art. Follow their story with this captivating tale, I loved the writing/story and the narration was awesome!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Very interesting look at the early life of Shelley

Part historical / biographical look at Shelley's early life and part romance and adventure.
Through a series of adventures across the western and northern parts of Europe, the early life of Marry Shelley and Percy Shelley is told. Intermingled within these adventures is a tale of two young lovers who long to be together and are slowly falling in love. Embedded even deeper into the narrative are the skeletons of the influences Mary Shelley has for eventually writing Frankenstein.
The book does an excellent job of describing the opulence that the rich and royal of the time experienced. it also details the hardship and time it took to travel what would be relatively short distances now.
A very nice companion piece for anyone that enjoys Frankenstein and would like to know more about Mary Shelley.

Heidi Gregory is great. Her excellent voice and accent lend themselves very well to this story. She is always able to give life to the characters, and as these characters actually once lived, that is important.

I requested a free review copy of this audiobook and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.