Her Lost Words

A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley

By: Stephanie Marie Thornton

Narrated by: Grace Gray, Hannah Curtis

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's 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.

©2023 Stephanie Marie Thornton (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A novel that explores the relationship between mothers and daughters and the human condition, Thornton grips our hearts with prose on love and loss, grief and survival, and the power of art and expression to heal our very souls. An extremely moving and enlightening novel that is an absolute must read!” —Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of The Mayfair Bookshop

“Thornton deftly maneuvers through her subjects’ lives in alternating chapters, highlighting the ways both women defy expectations regarding marriage, motherhood, and women’s roles in society. Readers who enjoy sweeping, emotional biographical fiction about iconoclastic women will be hooked.” —Booklist

“As passionate and fiercely intelligent as its protagonists, Her Lost Words is a fitting tribute to two women whose literary achievements reshaped the world….Brilliant.” —Shelf Awareness

Excellent

Fictional Biographies can be pretty tricky, but i appreciated the author's care here. The stories were seamlessly told and riveting. 10/10 recommend.

Great weaving of two story lines

A beautifully written and carefully researched fiction sorry about two incredible women. I enjoyed this very much!

Well-penned. Rich, mind expanding

Taught me so much and achieved the author stated goal of prompting the reader to dig deeper and research the original writings. Excellent. Loved it.

Even if you think you know, you don’t. Read This!

Two incredible worlds: that of the iconic authoress of Frankenstein and her deep-thinking, pen-wielding, inspiring mother; two unforgettable Marys. I’m a die-hard Stephanie Marie Thornton fan, as well as a receptacle and megaphone for women’s buried stories, give them all to me, but especially this!! I kept thinking: I’m this many years old and am just learning this! I want to shove the book in all the hands. I want to shout out to women and tell them to think and be brave and live! (And read about women such as these Marys). I also love consuming worlds populated by the thinkers and writers of their ages.

This book is all that and more. Audio is sublime. Don’t let it get away.