I discovered Stephanie Marie Thornton years ago when she was writing about ancient women and their untold stories. I have LOVED all of her ancient women novels and am still waiting for a Boudicca story! But in recent years she has moved more toward the stories of more modern women like Alice Roosevelt and spy Elizabeth Bentley. She always does an amazing amount of research in all of her novels but truth be told, I do miss the ancient women stories as they were so different and made me feel like I was reading something truly unique and new in a historical fiction world that focuses on marketable and well known figures and women.
But that said, I have yet to meet a Thornton book that I didn’t love. Her latest novel is about Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley! I am super excited for this latest novel as I think both of these women often get missed in having their stories told. Sure we know them for their own literary works but do we really know THEIR stories? That is what Thornton is going to explore in this latest novel! While I might not have been a fan of the book Frankenstein, I do have admiration for the courage, grit, and determination that Mary Shelley must have had to put out such a novel. And with a mother like Mary Wollstonecraft how could she not be a total badass?
This book is out just in time to round out women’s history month so I couldn’t think of a better literary duo to feature than this one! I couldn’t fit this one into my review schedule for this month which is why I opted for a feature instead, but I never miss a Thornton book so know that I will be reading this one a little later this summer and will be posting a review here soon! I am so excited to share my love of Thornton’s books with you guys and encourage you to pick up ANY of her books. You will not be disappointed in the level of historical research and her ability to pick interesting female figures to showcase!
Summary
From A Vindication of the Rights of Woman to Frankenstein, a tale of two literary legends–a mother and daughter–discovering each other and finding themselves along the way, from USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Marie Thornton.
1792. As a child, Mary Wollstonecraft longed to disappear during her father’s violent rages. Instead, she transforms herself into the radical author of the landmark volume A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, in which she dares to propose that women are equal to men. From conservative England to the blood-drenched streets of revolutionary France, Mary refuses to bow to society’s conventions and instead supports herself with her pen until an illicit love affair challenges her every belief about romance and marriage. When she gives birth to a daughter and is stricken with childbed fever, Mary fears it will be her many critics who recount her life’s extraordinary odyssey…
1818. The daughter of infamous political philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft, passionate Mary Shelley learned to read by tracing the letters of her mother’s tombstone. As a young woman, she desperately misses her mother’s guidance, especially following her scandalous elopement with dashing poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mary struggles to balance an ever-complicated marriage with motherhood while nursing twin hopes that she might write something of her own one day and also discover the truth of her mother’s unconventional life. Mary’s journey will unlock her mother’s secrets, all while leading to her own destiny as the groundbreaking author of Frankenstein.
A riveting and inspiring novel about a firebrand feminist, her visionary daughter, and the many ways their words transformed our world. (summary from Goodreads)
The Lit Bitch 