Mathilda

A daughter’s love. A father’s confession. A silence that destroys them both.

Mary Shelley’s Mathilda is a powerful and deeply personal novel of grief, isolation, and emotional suffering that reveals the darker psychological dimensions of the author’s imagination. Written shortly after the death of her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley’s first wife, the novel takes the form of a confession by Mathilda, a young woman recounting the devastating consequences of abandonment, loss, and a traumatic relationship with her father.

Through Mathilda’s painful journey, Shelley explores themes of family, guilt, loneliness, identity, and the lasting wounds created by betrayal and despair. Though unpublished during Shelley’s lifetime, Mathilda has become recognized as one of her most compelling works, offering a haunting exploration of the human heart and the complexities of grief.

• Written in 1819 and first published posthumously in 1959
• A powerful autobiographical and psychological novel by the author of Frankenstein
• A profound exploration of loss, abandonment, trauma, identity, guilt, and emotional survival

Formats and delivery

Paperback — Elegant print edition presenting the complete, unabridged text, and ships in 3–5 business days.
Hardcover — Elegant print edition presenting the complete, unabridged text, and ships in 5–7 business days.
EPUB — DRM-free, compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers. Instant download after purchase.
Audiobook — Professionally narrated, complete, and unabridged. Available on Audible, Spotify, Apple Books.

A haunting and intimate work of Romantic literature, Mathilda reveals Mary Shelley’s extraordinary ability to transform personal anguish into a profound meditation on love, suffering, and the search for peace.

About the Author

Mary Shelley (1797–1851) was an English novelist, essayist, and editor whose groundbreaking work transformed world literature. The daughter of philosopher William Godwin and feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley created Frankenstein at the age of eighteen, producing one of the most influential novels ever written.

Beyond her famous masterpiece, she authored novels including The Last Man, Valperga, and Mathilda, as well as travel writings, biographies, and essays that reflected her deep engagement with science, politics, philosophy, and social change. Her visionary imagination and intellectual curiosity continue to inspire readers across generations.