Other Women in
Godwin's “Life”
Judith Barbour
I am now writing a novel “Falkner”—My best it will be—I
believeOthers write—my Father did—in peace of heart—the imagina-
tion at work alone—some warmth imparted to them by the strong
conjuring up of fictitious woes—but tranquil in their own bos-
oms—But I! O my God—what a lot is mine—marked by tragedy &
death—tracked by disappointment & unutterable wretchedness—
blow after blow—my heart dies within me—I say — ["]would I
might die.” that is wicked—but life is a struggle & a burthen
beyond my strength. My health is irremediably shattered—my
hopes entirely low—day after day —& if a joy come it is so inex-
tricably & above all so closely linked with misery—that I feel it
only to know that it is gone—I have lost my dear darling Father—
What I then went through—watching alone his dying hours!My Percy—my adored child remains—Protect him, heaven! —
rain evil & pain upon me but spare him! …Was I ever rewarded? O My God—I am too miserable to write …
London, 7 June 18361
Mary Shelley's journal is an untidy repository of unofficial secrets, worries, and gripes, and the borderline between literary romance fiction and quotidian family affairs is porous. Her father, William Godwin, had died on 7 April 1836, leaving Shelley as the only
Notes are on pp. 153–57.
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