Frankenstein: Texts and Contexts

An overview of his life, writings, and reputation. From the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Links to 'An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice' (1793), and 'On Population' (1820)

Godwin's history of people who, through the ages, have claimed to possess magical powers.

The warts-and-all biography of his late wife that shocked the critics of the day.

A treatise on human nature, in which Godwin opposes the ideal of the natural man propounded by Rousseau.

An overview of her life, writings, and reputation, From the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Mary Wollstonecraft died of puerperal fever 11 days after giving birth to Mary, herein called "the animal" (1:39 min).

Her defense of women against language and ideas that present them as weak and/or defective.

As a result of her relationship with the American land speculator Gilbert Imlay, Wollstonecraft gave birth to a daughter, Fanny Imlay, in 1794. She refers to Fanny throughout these letters as "the creature."

A conduct book, in which Wollstonecraft encourages educating daughters to think analytically, to behave modestly and with kindness, and to develop marketable skills.