Customer Reviews

Maurice, or the Fisher's Cot: A Long-Lost Tale

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This tale is a far cry from Mary's most acclaimed work, Frankenstein. And why not? It was, after all, written for a little girl, and therefore not intended to house any complexities. It is a simple story, broken into three small parts in the fashion of popular adult stories of Shelley's time, and is a tad on the predictable side. It reads almost like a fairytale, with the stolen child reunited with his parents (who happen to be well-off) by pure chance. Despite the story's lack of surprises, I still found it wonderful to settle back into the familiarity of Shelley's writing style with a new text (as will most who have researched her). "The Fisher's Cot" will also appeal to Mary Shelley fans because of the introduction by Claire Tomalin at the very beginning. Tomalin does a good job of setting the scene that the story was written in so that the casual reader will be able to enjoy not only the actual story, but the story behind it as well. Overall, if you're a Shelley fan you definitely should get this book. If you're not, I politely suggest that you review all your options first.

Mary Shelley was such an interesting person, as indeed many around her were. And yet, for all that, she has been totally dwarfed by her one famous novel - 'Frankenstein' - but even here it is not really Mary Shelley. The novel firstly became famous - not as Mary Shelley's story but as a theatrical adaptation. And since then films have built on and obscured the original genius of 'Frankenstein'.

Surprise, surprise - Mary was a lot better than that. She was a very talented and perceptive writer. There are some recommendations below. 'Maurice' is a beautiful story full of pathos and the regrets of life where it seems impossible to award benefit where it is due without splashing it to where it doesn't belong, or to deliver punishment where it's due without - in the same way - delivering negatives to others who do not deserve it.

The biographical information about Mary Shelley and about 'Maurice' itself is a fascinating story and certainly adds to what is really a very short story - justifying publishing it in a single volume.

Other recommendations:
Mary Shelley - Transformation
Mary Shelley - Matilda
Mary Shelley - Frankenstein (if you haven't read it you may be surprised)
William Godwin - Caleb Williams (Godwin was Mary's father)