Mathilda

Rarely have I been immersed in such disturbing tragedy as I was here. The astonishingly bold and courageous early 19th century writer Mary Shelley is of course most famous for her first novel, Frankenstein, a story that shocked the world and continues to shock today... but her second novel Mathilda is even more uncomfortable, portraying the taboos of incestuous feelings and suicide. Mathilda tells her own story to a friend, a young poet, who in turn tries to persuade her to live and embrace life again. The audiobook also begins with a tremendous introduction by Deanna P. Koretsky, offering a contemporary feminist perspective on issues like patriarchy and gender. Shelley was indeed decades if not centuries ahead of her time. I even saved myself some of the few, beautiful, life-affirming words of comfort from Mathilda's young poet friend... You can listen to the Audible recording here.