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Revolution and Romanticism
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A facsimile reprint in the Revolution & Romanticism series chosen and introduced by Jonathan Wordsworth ISBN 1 85477 192 2 245 x 175mm This is a long novel, published originally in three volumes. To keep the selling price within bounds we have used a large page size, each page containing four pages of the original with the type size slightly reduced. |
MARY SHELLEY Valperga 1823 Mary Shelley’s second novel was conceived at the time of Frankenstein in 1817, but not written until 1822. Before publication it was usefully revised by Godwin. Set in fourteenth-century Italy, it has three main characters - the relentless, ambitious Castruccio, the strangely-named Euthanasia who has loved him since childhood, and Beatrice the prophetess. Shelley, Mary, Emilia Viviani? Perhaps; though Clair Clairmont thought that Euthanasia might herself represent Shelley, ‘in female attire’. The story, which for all the exploits of Castruccio, centres on Euthanasia, is dark, tragic. And the writing, notably in its dream passages, reaches haunting levels of intensity. £55 $85 As they came near, Euthanasia felt some curiosity to know her destination; but she saw nothing but the dim weed-grown field, and the white breakers of the troubled ocean. It was not until they were close upon the sand that she discerned a large black boat drawn up upon the beach, and several men near it. One of them came up and asked the word, which the countryman gave them; and then a man, who had the appearance of a leader, came from the boat and welcomed Euthanasia. ‘I am commanded.’ he said, ‘by the prince of Lucca to receive you, lady.’ ‘And whither am I to go?’ He pointed to a vessel that rode hard by - so near , that she wondered that she had not seen it before. Its black hulk cast a deep shade upon the waters; and the dim sails, increased to an extraordinary size by the the darkness, flapped heavily. She looked upon it with surprize, and wondered whither it was to bear her.
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