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A review by taun
History of a Six Weeks' Tour Through a Part of France, Switzerland, Germany and Holland: With Letters Descriptive of a Sail Round the Lake of Geneva, and of the Glaciers of Chamouni by Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley
5.0
A rather fascinating travel narrative from the perspectives of Mary Shelley & her husband, Percy Shelley (with her sister Claire) from trips taken 1814 & 1816.
Part journal, part letters, & one poem, 'Mont Blanc' (Percy Shelley), the details recorded are often stunning looks at the countries through which the party travelled, but also offer a far more realistic outlook as well. The heat, questionable people, travel issues, terrible lodgings, to mention a few.
I read this out of a desire to further understand the life of Mary Shelley, & while the travelogue often presents a more romantic worldview, the reality of Mary's life during these years were often anything but. Miscarriages, infidelity, depression, societal ostracism, poverty... these were all recurring & often devastating themes of Mary's life.
Overall, a helpful collection for the lay historian, or those who simply want to further understand Mary & the era itself.
Part journal, part letters, & one poem, 'Mont Blanc' (Percy Shelley), the details recorded are often stunning looks at the countries through which the party travelled, but also offer a far more realistic outlook as well. The heat, questionable people, travel issues, terrible lodgings, to mention a few.
I read this out of a desire to further understand the life of Mary Shelley, & while the travelogue often presents a more romantic worldview, the reality of Mary's life during these years were often anything but. Miscarriages, infidelity, depression, societal ostracism, poverty... these were all recurring & often devastating themes of Mary's life.
Overall, a helpful collection for the lay historian, or those who simply want to further understand Mary & the era itself.