The Godwins & the Shelleys

This is a biography of one of the most influential families in the history of ideas. William Godwin's treatise on liberalism, Political Justice , brought the ideas of the French Revolution to Britain. A Vindication of the Rights of Women by his wife, Mary Wollstonecraft, marked the start of the modern women's movement. At a time when Godwin's early achievements had been largely pushed aside, the poet Shelley ran off with his daughter, Mary Godwin, who wrote Frankenstein . The book is based on an exploration of the vast family archives. Amongst other discoveries, the author has decoded a secret diary recording Godwin's sexual relationship with his wife. In the case of a family who in their writings advocated greater sexual freedom, this information has more than a personal interest.