The Last Man by Mary Shelley (1826)

Name: The Last Man
Author: Mary Shelley

The Last Man is a post-apocalyptic novel by Mary Shelley, first published in 1826. It tells the story of a future world devastated by a plague that has wiped out the entire human race, except for one man, Lionel Verney. Lionel is the last survivor of a once-thriving civilization, and he is left to wander the world alone. He is haunted by memories of his past life and the people he once knew, and he is determined to find out what happened to the human race. As he travels, Lionel meets a variety of characters, including a mysterious woman who claims to be the last living descendant of the ancient Greek gods. He also encounters a group of survivors who are trying to rebuild civilization, and he joins them in their efforts. The novel is a meditation on the fragility of life and the power of hope in the face of despair. It is a powerful exploration of the human condition and the power of the human spirit to endure even in the darkest of times.

By Mary Shelley · First published 1826 · Genre: Romanticism, Science Fiction, Gothic Fiction · 31 chapters · 176,234 words

First lines

I am the native of a sea-surrounded nook, a cloud-enshadowed land, which, when the surface of the globe, with its shoreless ocean and trackless continents, presents itself to my mind, appears only as an inconsiderable speck in the immense whole; and yet, when balanced in the scale of mental power, far outweighed countries of larger extent and more numerous population. So true it is, that man's mind alone was the creator of all that was good or great to man, and that Nature herself was only his first minister. England, seated far north in the turbid sea, now visits my dreams in the semblance of a vast and well-manned ship, which mastered the winds and rode proudly over the waves. In my boyish days she was the universe to me. When I stood on my native hills, and saw plain and mountain stretch out to the utmost limits of my vision, speckled by the dwellings of my countrymen, and subdued to fertility by their labours, the earth's very centre was fixed for me in that spot, and the rest of her orb was as a fable, to have forgotten which would have cost neither my imagination nor understanding an effort.

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The Last Man is listed on Textopian as a novel by Mary Shelley, dated 1826 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Mary Shelley
Date: 1826 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romanticism, Science Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Speculative Fiction
Length: 176,234 words
Structure: 31 chapters, 1,241 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Genres

Romanticism — The Last Man is a classic example of Romantic literature, with its focus on the individual, the sublime, and the power of nature.
Science Fiction — The Last Man is set in a post-apocalyptic future and features elements of science fiction, such as advanced technology and a dystopian society.
Gothic Fiction — The Last Man contains elements of Gothic fiction, such as a dark and mysterious atmosphere, supernatural elements, and a sense of dread.
Speculative Fiction — The Last Man is a work of speculative fiction, as it explores the possibilities of a future world and its implications for humanity.