Edited by Michelle Faubert. Shelley's Mathilda would have been her second published work of fiction, after Frankenstein, and shared many elements with her first novel. However, the novella lay in publishing purgatory for 140 years, not published until 1959. When Mary sent the manuscript to her father, William Godwin, told her not to publish, and efused to return it to his daughter. This is understandable, as it deals with themes of incest, insanity, suicidality, monstrosity, and isolation, and the incest is a father-daughter relationship, which naturally would have exposed Godwin to suspicion. However, these were common gothic themes of the times, and Mary Shelley used these themes skillfully to explore contemporary cultural debates. This edition includes a wide range of supplementary material, including information on the themes of incest and suicide in the Romantic era. Broadview Press. 2017. Paper. NEW. $18.00
