Love and Fury: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft by Samantha Silva

 Well-crafted novel of Mary Wollstonecraft – arguably the world’s first feminist, one of the world’s most influential thinkers and mother of the famous novelist Mary Shelley.

London, 1797. A midwife named Mrs. B arrives at Mary’s house as Mary is about to give birth to her second child. Mrs. B, after attending the birth, now is assisting the weak and feverish mother. She relates the events of those few days with warmness and attentiveness, happening in present time.

The story alternates between these two women. As Mary’s story goes back in time, it gives a better understanding of what made Mary who she is. And it is written in a form of Mary relating the events to her just born daughter, Mary Shelley.

When Mary’s family moves from the city to the country, she meets a young girl whose father is a scientist. His lectures which she attends make her heart swell with determination to overcome certain obstacles she faces. She is a smart girl and wants to attend advanced classes at school, but those classes are meant for boys. She is told to focus more on embroidery. As they move yet to another village with no school for Mary and no more of John Arden’s lectures. What she sees is a village of lunatics. Or is it so? The local Reverend asks her about her view of John Locke. She has no knowledge of him. And that can be fixed per Reverend. “Creatures of the same species, (…) had a natural equality, and no husband should have more power over his wife’s life than she had over his.” And that becomes Mary’s motto.

I enjoyed both characters very much. However, as this is Mary’s story she takes the center stage. She puts herself on a path to a life of her own choosing, her own direction, and her dreams. She also goes through losses in her life that steal her fire, but she is reminded to grow from it, and to remember her purpose. And that’s when she puts pen to paper. This later leads her to taking part in literary and philosophical discussions among men, gaining their respect.

As the story alternates between these two women who give out pieces of their stories, they capture your attention from the very beginning and hold it to the very end. They know how to pull you into this story and keep you hooked thoroughly and throughout.

The combination of two interesting characters, and their stories being presented in such humane way and with mesmerizing prose – making this story a very memorable, profound and spellbinding read.

Release date: 25 May 2021

Source: Flatiron Books