The Last Man
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The Last Man is an early post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by Mary Shelley, which was first published in 1826. The book tells of a future world that has been ravaged by a plague. The Last Man was written in the period following her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley's death. The book reflects on his death and is partially, but not strictly, a roman à clef.
The novel has always been overshadowed by Frankenstein and as a result has been largely ignored by the reading public. This is a loss as it is in many ways as great a work as its illustrious and much filmed and parodied predecessor. “The Last Man” was written in the period following her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley’s death. Central to the book’s philosophical approach is a rejection of the romanticism of Lord Byron, whom she knew well, and her late husband. It blends astute political observation, a complex tale of doomed love and obvious portraits of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron into its subtle, melancholy mix. It is beautifully written and rewards both initial reading and, even more, re-reading.
Set in the year 2097, it was influential on the development of English science fiction, particularly on H.G. Wells (see The Time Machine, The Island of Dr Moreau, and The Invisible Man), Olaf Stapledon and, less obviously, Arthur C. Clarke, particularly Childhood's End.
See
- Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
- Last man, the Nietzschean concept
