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The Last Man

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The Last Man

By: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
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The Last Man is Mary Shelley's apocalyptic fantasy of the end of human civilisation. Set in the late twenty-first century, the novel unfolds a sombre and pessimistic vision of mankind confronting inevitable destruction. Interwoven with her futuristic theme, Mary Shelley incorporates idealised portraits of Shelley and Byron, yet rejects Romanticism and its faith in art and nature.

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851) was the only daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, author of Vindication of the Rights of Woman, and the radical philosopher William Godwin. Her mother died ten days after her birth and the young child was educated through contact with her father's intellectual circle and her own reading. She met Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1812; they eloped in July 1814. In the summer of 1816 she began her first and most famous novel, Frankenstein. Three of her children died in early infancy and in 1822 her husband was drowned. Mary returned to England with her surviving son and wrote novels, short stories and accounts of her travels; she was the first editor of P.B.Shelley's poetry and verse.

Public Domain (P)2013 Audible Ltd Classics Witty

Editor reviews

Set in the late 21st century, Mary Shelley's apocalyptic story about the end of human civilization rejects Romanticism and its faith in art and nature. Narrator Barnaby Edwards' measured performance allows the nihilism and rebelliousness of protagonist Lionel Verney to seep through as he narrates his life story, set against the failure of the English monarchy and the establishment of a republic. However, when a plague arrives, most of the population falls to this implacable enemy and Verney's life is plunged into chaos and desperation. The rules of society crumble, a messianic cult rises, and law and order is overturned. Listeners will be fascinated by Shelley's Gothic vision of the future and fatalistic view of mankind.
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This book is an incredibly strange mixture of fangirling about male English aristocracy, ancient bigotry and prescience about the modern world and the current nature of humanity. There are obvious parallels with our age of climate change and pandemic, but the mode of writing is rambling, verbose and inaccessible to modern ears. I feel like I have a greater insight into the mores of the age in which the book was authored. Would I want to sit through it again - absolutely not, but I’m happy to have done it once.

I was also amused by the cheeky little Easter Egg. In the midst of the most earnest dialogue, we suddenly hear, “half a pint for me and a Babycham for Clara”.

The narrator did a wonderful job, considering, and probably needed therapy afterwards. I give him a round of wondering applause for just getting to the end.

The chap who read this deserves a medal

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Many parts very relevant to today's environmental crisis and pandemic climate... but the best bit is that the narrator slips into the gothic/dramatic narrative " half a pint for me and a babysham for Clara" on Chapter 23 45.47. I wonder if he had a bet on with someone he could fit it in and no one would notice? Narrator's voice suited to the narrative. I enjoyed it though listened to it at speed x1.5 as it did drone on a bit in places.

Interesting listen in the time of a pandemic

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The speculative depiction of late 21st century Europe through the eyes of an early 19th century perspective was pretty interesting. The connection to that history is still undeniable especially the loss of Shelley's entire family and social circle. This proto-dystopian apocalypse is incredibly personal to the writer though it can still resonate with readers who know that sting of loss and lonliness. I compare it to Interview with the Vampire which tells of similar melancholy inspired by deep personal grief. I also wonder whether Stephen King ever read it, as I see some similarities in The Stand as well. Whether it is better to end on King's ultimate hope of survival for human kind or Shelley's uncertainty is up to the reader.

The melancholy desolation and loneliness

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Would you listen to The Last Man again? Why?

This is a great book, although the tempo of the story itself is slow. But it’s never boring, it paints the scenes in your mind. And there are such wonderful sentences. Meticulous literary artwork, put together neatly and perfectly as a Swiss watch. You can only marvel at the intricate mechanics.
These are sentences you want to remember, but can’t because there so far & above daily communication.
The audio book is read by Barnaby Edwards, a true artist of the trade. I bought a few books, based on that instead of on knowing the writer or the book. And the best narrator for this book’s masterful literary artworks.

Meticulous literary artwork

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Clearly there is no check of reader quality or accuracy if the above drinks order made it into the recording. It provided me with welcome comic relief and a fact check excursion into the history of Babycham.

Half a pint for me and a Babycham for Clara

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