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The Dream
A short story written by famous "Frankenstein" author Mary Shelley. This version features added illustrations and pictures.
First published January 1, 1832
About the author
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
1,714 books7,280 followersMary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, often known as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, travel writer, and editor of the works of her husband, Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. She was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the writer, philosopher, and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.
Mary Shelley was taken seriously as a writer in her own lifetime, though reviewers often missed the political edge to her novels. After her death, however, she was chiefly remembered only as the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein. It was not until 1989, when Emily Sunstein published her prizewinning biography Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality, that a full-length scholarly biography analyzing all of Shelley's letters, journals, and works within their historical context was published.
The well-meaning attempts of Mary Shelley's son and daughter-in-law to "Victorianise" her memory through the censoring of letters and biographical material contributed to a perception of Mary Shelley as a more conventional, less reformist figure than her works suggest. Her own timid omissions from Percy Shelley's works and her quiet avoidance of public controversy in the later years of her life added to this impression.
The eclipse of Mary Shelley's reputation as a novelist and biographer meant that, until the last thirty years, most of her works remained out of print, obstructing a larger view of her achievement. She was seen as a one-novel author, if that. In recent decades, however, the republication of almost all her writings has stimulated a new recognition of its value. Her voracious reading habits and intensive study, revealed in her journals and letters and reflected in her works, is now better appreciated. Shelley's recognition of herself as an author has also been recognized; after Percy's death, she wrote about her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea". Scholars now consider Mary Shelley to be a major Romantic figure, significant for her literary achievement and her political voice as a woman and a liberal.
Mary Shelley was taken seriously as a writer in her own lifetime, though reviewers often missed the political edge to her novels. After her death, however, she was chiefly remembered only as the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein. It was not until 1989, when Emily Sunstein published her prizewinning biography Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality, that a full-length scholarly biography analyzing all of Shelley's letters, journals, and works within their historical context was published.
The well-meaning attempts of Mary Shelley's son and daughter-in-law to "Victorianise" her memory through the censoring of letters and biographical material contributed to a perception of Mary Shelley as a more conventional, less reformist figure than her works suggest. Her own timid omissions from Percy Shelley's works and her quiet avoidance of public controversy in the later years of her life added to this impression.
The eclipse of Mary Shelley's reputation as a novelist and biographer meant that, until the last thirty years, most of her works remained out of print, obstructing a larger view of her achievement. She was seen as a one-novel author, if that. In recent decades, however, the republication of almost all her writings has stimulated a new recognition of its value. Her voracious reading habits and intensive study, revealed in her journals and letters and reflected in her works, is now better appreciated. Shelley's recognition of herself as an author has also been recognized; after Percy's death, she wrote about her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea". Scholars now consider Mary Shelley to be a major Romantic figure, significant for her literary achievement and her political voice as a woman and a liberal.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 30, 2020
"Ninguna estatua labrada en mármol de efigie monumental fue nunca la mitad de hermosa; y dentro de aquella incomparable forma moraba un alma verdadera, tierna, sacrificada y afectuosa, como jamás albergó pecho humano"
No es la mejor historia del mundo pero me ha gustado bastante, desde luego es simple por la extensión del relato que más bien es un cuento, sin embargo tiene una trama interesante y romántica. Desde luego está el matiz gótico inspirado esta vez en algo religioso: el lecho de Santa Catalina que ayuda a tener visiones sobre el porvenir.
El ambiente histórico está en la Francia post guerras de religión de la época del famoso rey Enrique IV, quien gozaba de la aprobación de contemporáneos y posteriores sobre lo que significaba ser un buen rey (y quizás de Mary Shelley, quien como otras inglesas tenía una atracción por los temas franceses), donde la protagonista Constance, condesa de Villeneuve, tras haber perdido a su familia en la Guerra de Religión duda sobre lo que debe hacer aunque Gaspar, un joven protestante enemigo de su familia, la quiere desde hace mucho.
El desenlace de este enredo constituye el cuento que me pareció una pequeña muestra de romántico - gótico excelente.
No es la mejor historia del mundo pero me ha gustado bastante, desde luego es simple por la extensión del relato que más bien es un cuento, sin embargo tiene una trama interesante y romántica. Desde luego está el matiz gótico inspirado esta vez en algo religioso: el lecho de Santa Catalina que ayuda a tener visiones sobre el porvenir.
El ambiente histórico está en la Francia post guerras de religión de la época del famoso rey Enrique IV, quien gozaba de la aprobación de contemporáneos y posteriores sobre lo que significaba ser un buen rey (y quizás de Mary Shelley, quien como otras inglesas tenía una atracción por los temas franceses), donde la protagonista Constance, condesa de Villeneuve, tras haber perdido a su familia en la Guerra de Religión duda sobre lo que debe hacer aunque Gaspar, un joven protestante enemigo de su familia, la quiere desde hace mucho.
El desenlace de este enredo constituye el cuento que me pareció una pequeña muestra de romántico - gótico excelente.
January 8, 2021
It was interesting to read something else by Mary Shelley that isn't Frankenstein. I've read a few other things from her. It was enjoyable enough but I'm not in awe of her writing. But she was a talented writer just not a favorite of mine.
October 6, 2018
i think it will help me to understand mary views
December 17, 2020
"...la de ella era la peor pena, que destroza gozos pasados, haciendo al remordimiento cebarse en la promesa de felicidad, uniendo amor y culpa como el tirano que ata un cuerpo vivo al de un cadáver para que lo lastre hasta el fondo del abismo."
Este cuentecito es un manual de la estética romántica y gótica metiendo tantos tropos en tan cortas páginas que ya casi que sabes lo que va a pasar.
Con eso y todo, tiene su encanto pa cogerlo así aislado.
Este cuentecito es un manual de la estética romántica y gótica metiendo tantos tropos en tan cortas páginas que ya casi que sabes lo que va a pasar.
Con eso y todo, tiene su encanto pa cogerlo así aislado.
August 25, 2021
“The Dream” ****
Captivating!
“.. and that while angers surrounded her in every shape, she was alive only to a still small voice that whispered to her heart the dream which was to decide their destinies.”
Captivating!
“.. and that while angers surrounded her in every shape, she was alive only to a still small voice that whispered to her heart the dream which was to decide their destinies.”
May 29, 2023
My introduction to Mary Shelley. While the plot is rather dull and not in my taste range, the prose is gorgeous and pulled me along. I can appreciate how her writing style is the real highlight of this short story. At least, for me.
November 30, 2023
Buen libro, vale la pena leerlo pues es cortito; amé el audiolibro por los efectos especiales que me ayudaron a adentrarme más en la historia, el sonido del bosque y el agua fueron muy relajantes y envolventes.
Recomiendo mucho el audiolibro de la editorial “Saga” narrado por Eva Coll.
Recomiendo mucho el audiolibro de la editorial “Saga” narrado por Eva Coll.
January 29, 2021
1.5 stars
September 4, 2021
The writing was poetically beautiful, but the story line itself of a maiden giving herself to a nunnery due to the loss of her loved ones, rather than marry a knight was not interesting for me
May 18, 2022
finished reading over a month ago. It was good.
November 5, 2024
"Todo aquello que parecía alegre por sí mismo, o hermoso en apariencia, sólo servía para renovar su pesar".
January 25, 2024
What had me come upon the story of a woman lost to her grief; a woman set on abandoning herself to the cloistered halls of the church? I had hoped to find a different story than the one held behind the title of this one. The author's reputation had me believe that this short story would be eerie & gruelling. Whereas, in reality, this story was short, isolated, disillusioning, & rather dull.
At face value, none of these comments are necessarily insightful. They don’t encourage nor discourage a reader from this story. I wouldn’t know where to begin explaining this title's intention or plot to anyone. Once upon a time, a young lady lived in a giant castle in France with a silly little housemaid who was worried sick over the dramatics of the fair lady. Thankfully, the theatrical main character—Constance—is friends with the King. After deciding that she cannot wed the love of her life, because he was involved in the same war that saw her brother & father killed, Constance decides that she will become a nun.
I did laugh at some parts of this story. Constance’s will is immovable. The story presents an interesting dilemma though, this is perhaps shielded by the time period in which this story takes place. Constance seems not to care about the fact that her social well-being is dictated by the males of her society. She seems to move about life completely unaware of the fact that, at any moment, they could lock her away or send her off to marry the troll under any number of bridges.
Whilst Constance ponders her decision—whether to marry the love of her life or become a devout religious representative—the King endeavours to change her mind. He sends her lover back to the property in an attempt to whisk her away. They cry, they argue, & Constance runs away in worry. It’s all very melodramatic, the point is; Constance loves someone, even though she knows he has done wrong.
This review is very short because I have nothing of substance to say. Constance sleeps on a rocky peak in the hopes that the tales of clarity & visions are true; someone else will tell her what to do. I suppose that within the indecision we see how complicated it must have been—it remains—to follow one's heart. What if the decision we make is the wrong one? Ultimately, Constance’s dreams show her how sad she would be if she lost out on love; how dreadful life would be without the man she cared so much for. They live happily ever after.
The writing style was lovely & immersive but, ultimately, I didn’t care. I couldn’t care about what happened because I was disconnected from the setting. I don’t very much enjoy medieval period pieces & therefore I found myself wondering where Constance acquired the freedom to wander around at leisure, sleeping on widows-peak rock formations, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. I know others will find much to appreciate in this story, but this wasn’t my thing.
If you would like to read this story, please visit this •LINK•
At face value, none of these comments are necessarily insightful. They don’t encourage nor discourage a reader from this story. I wouldn’t know where to begin explaining this title's intention or plot to anyone. Once upon a time, a young lady lived in a giant castle in France with a silly little housemaid who was worried sick over the dramatics of the fair lady. Thankfully, the theatrical main character—Constance—is friends with the King. After deciding that she cannot wed the love of her life, because he was involved in the same war that saw her brother & father killed, Constance decides that she will become a nun.
I did laugh at some parts of this story. Constance’s will is immovable. The story presents an interesting dilemma though, this is perhaps shielded by the time period in which this story takes place. Constance seems not to care about the fact that her social well-being is dictated by the males of her society. She seems to move about life completely unaware of the fact that, at any moment, they could lock her away or send her off to marry the troll under any number of bridges.
Whilst Constance ponders her decision—whether to marry the love of her life or become a devout religious representative—the King endeavours to change her mind. He sends her lover back to the property in an attempt to whisk her away. They cry, they argue, & Constance runs away in worry. It’s all very melodramatic, the point is; Constance loves someone, even though she knows he has done wrong.
This review is very short because I have nothing of substance to say. Constance sleeps on a rocky peak in the hopes that the tales of clarity & visions are true; someone else will tell her what to do. I suppose that within the indecision we see how complicated it must have been—it remains—to follow one's heart. What if the decision we make is the wrong one? Ultimately, Constance’s dreams show her how sad she would be if she lost out on love; how dreadful life would be without the man she cared so much for. They live happily ever after.
The writing style was lovely & immersive but, ultimately, I didn’t care. I couldn’t care about what happened because I was disconnected from the setting. I don’t very much enjoy medieval period pieces & therefore I found myself wondering where Constance acquired the freedom to wander around at leisure, sleeping on widows-peak rock formations, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. I know others will find much to appreciate in this story, but this wasn’t my thing.
If you would like to read this story, please visit this •LINK•
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2023
difficult to follow why was constance doing the most
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews