Scan barcode
A review by booksbythewindow
The Last Man by Mary Shelley
For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/05/04/the-last-man/
Summary: Set in the 2080s and 2090s, The Last Man takes place in an England that has become a republic after the abdication of the king. The Last Man follows a tight-knit group of five characters: narrator Lionel Verney, who will become the eponymous last man; Verney’s wife Idris, the daughter of the last king; Idris’ brother Adrian, Verney’s closest friend who will become a leader in a time of crisis; Verney’s sister Perdita; and Perdita’s husband Raymond, who will be elected Lord Protector by the ruling elite. The narrative is divided into three volumes with the first concerned mostly with the politics and romantic entanglements of the five main characters. It is during the second volume that the first signs of the virus start to emerge, in the midst of a war that Raymond has entered into. By the third volume, the virus has taken hold all over the world, causing devastation everywhere.
Overall Thoughts: I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started The Last Man, but it was an engaging, absorbing read that kept me engaged despite how unsettling the pandemic aspect of the narrative was. The first volume of The Last Man feels almost like reading an account of Shelley, Percy Shelley, Claire Claremont, and Byron; it is definitely hard not to see the parallels between the real life and relationships of Shelley and the narrative in Volume One. One aspect of Shelley’s writing that stands out in Volumes Two and Three is the way in which she gradually builds up tension. I am not sure that everyone would enjoy The Last Man as it is quite a slow-paced narrative, and the plague might make it a particularly difficult read at the moment, but I would definitely recommend it for those who are interested in Mary Shelley and her life, as well as those who want to read some classic apocalyptic literature.
Summary: Set in the 2080s and 2090s, The Last Man takes place in an England that has become a republic after the abdication of the king. The Last Man follows a tight-knit group of five characters: narrator Lionel Verney, who will become the eponymous last man; Verney’s wife Idris, the daughter of the last king; Idris’ brother Adrian, Verney’s closest friend who will become a leader in a time of crisis; Verney’s sister Perdita; and Perdita’s husband Raymond, who will be elected Lord Protector by the ruling elite. The narrative is divided into three volumes with the first concerned mostly with the politics and romantic entanglements of the five main characters. It is during the second volume that the first signs of the virus start to emerge, in the midst of a war that Raymond has entered into. By the third volume, the virus has taken hold all over the world, causing devastation everywhere.
Overall Thoughts: I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started The Last Man, but it was an engaging, absorbing read that kept me engaged despite how unsettling the pandemic aspect of the narrative was. The first volume of The Last Man feels almost like reading an account of Shelley, Percy Shelley, Claire Claremont, and Byron; it is definitely hard not to see the parallels between the real life and relationships of Shelley and the narrative in Volume One. One aspect of Shelley’s writing that stands out in Volumes Two and Three is the way in which she gradually builds up tension. I am not sure that everyone would enjoy The Last Man as it is quite a slow-paced narrative, and the plague might make it a particularly difficult read at the moment, but I would definitely recommend it for those who are interested in Mary Shelley and her life, as well as those who want to read some classic apocalyptic literature.