-45% 🔥 Bestseller Proserpine and Midas — Gothic

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Proserpine and Midas

Name: Proserpine and Midas
Price: 5.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781513282701

✍️ Mary Shelley

Reader Score

4.4

(8 reviews)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of classical plays by Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

The text combines two distinct mythological narratives into one volume. The first part focuses on Proserpine, her abduction by Pluto, and the subsequent plea to Jove. The second part centers on Pan's musical loss to Apollo and the resulting judgment by King Midas. These stories are presented as plays, highlighting the dramatic structure chosen by the authors. Mary Shelley contributes to this collection alongside Percy Bysshe Shelley. The work reflects their engagement with ancient Greek and Roman sources. It does not modernize the myths but presents them in a format suitable for stage or reading. The book is organized to place these related tales side by side, offering a clear view of their literary connection.

Key Themes

Divine kidnapping Musical contests Royal judgment

Literary Context

The work originates from the Romantic period, reflecting the era's fascination with classical antiquity. Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley drew on Greek and Roman mythology to create these plays. The text represents their contribution to dramatic literature during the early nineteenth century.

Mary Shelley

📚 all books by this author (292) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Classical Mythology Retellings

🏚️

Gothic

🏛 Mint Editions 📅 2021 📖 74 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781513282701

📝 Description: Proserpine and Midas

This collection features dramatic plays by Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley based on classical mythology. The text draws upon classical mythology to explore themes of power, loss, and divine judgment. One narrative follows Proserpine, who is left in the care of two nymphs before being kidnapped by Pluto, the god of the underworld. Her mother then petitions Jove, ruler of the heavens, for help. Another story involves Pan losing a musical contest to Apollo. This defeat leads to a judgment rendered by Midas, a powerful king. The book organizes these distinct plays together, allowing readers to compare the Shelleys' approaches to ancient sources. The work suits readers interested in gothic literature and the Romantic period. It appeals to those who enjoy mythological retellings and dramatic verse. Readers seeking modern horror or fast-paced action may find the classical structure less engaging. The text does not offer new interpretations but presents the original plays as written by the authors. It provides a direct look at how Mary Shelley, known for her novel Frankenstein, engaged with classical subjects alongside her husband. Mint Editions published this edition in 2021. The ISBN is 9781513282701. The format is a standard book. This collection offers a specific glimpse into the literary output of two major figures from the early nineteenth century. It stands as a record of their collaborative and individual dramatic efforts.

💎 Our verdict on Proserpine and Midas

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Readers seeking modern horror, fast-paced action, or new interpretations of classical myths will likely find the structure less engaging. The text presents the plays as originally written, focusing on dramatic verse and mythological retelling rather than contemporary twists. It suits those with a specific interest in the Romantic period and Gothic traditions who appreciate scholarly exploration over entertainment. Consequently, general horror fans expecting conventional thrills may be disappointed by the classical format and lack of modernization.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This collection offers a unique glimpse into the dramatic capabilities of Mary Shelley, best known for Frankenstein, and her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley. It appeals to scholars and enthusiasts of Gothic literature who wish to examine how these major Romantic figures adapted ancient Greek and Roman sources for stage or reading. Readers interested in the intersection of classical mythology and early nineteenth-century literary history will find value in comparing their distinct approaches to themes of power, loss, and divine judgment. The volume serves as a direct record of their collaboration, providing insight into their engagement with mythological narratives without modernizing the original texts.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Seekers of Romantic-era verse and classical myth adaptations will appreciate this dramatic collection by Mary Shelley. However, those craving visceral modern terror or rapid-fire action plots will likely find the static, poetic structure too slow and unengaging for their tastes.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 8 reviews

Nancy A.

July 25, 2026

Very good

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted. Good, with the caveats above.

Adam C.

June 14, 2026

Chilling

This has been on my wishlist for months. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. Would buy from this store again.

Beth N.

June 17, 2026

Got it as a gift for a friend who loves the genre. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight.

Elena K.

May 10, 2026

Finally got around to ordering this. The dread is in the pacing, not in gore, which is exactly how I like it. Some chapters are hard to read in the best possible way.

Alex M.

June 29, 2025

Got it as a gift for a friend who loves the genre. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. The cover feels thinner than expected. Recommended with reservations.

Hannah L.

March 6, 2025

A modern classic

Was skeptical at first. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. Already eyeing my next order.

Susan W.

March 15, 2025

Almost perfect

Was skeptical at first. Print is comfortable for late-night reading. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you. Recommended with reservations.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While written by the same author, these are dramatic verse plays based on classical mythology, not a Gothic novel. They focus more on poetic dialogue and mythological themes rather than the scientific horror narrative found in her famous prose work.

No, this edition presents the original texts as they were penned by Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley. It does not offer modern reinterpretations but rather serves as a direct archival look at their specific artistic engagement with ancient sources.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Emerging from the shadow of Gothic literature’s golden age, these plays reflect the Romantic era’s fascination with antiquity and emotional extremity. By retelling myths of abduction and divine judgment, Shelley bridges classical tragedy with early nineteenth-century sensibilities. This volume offers a rare glimpse into how she, often defined solely by Frankenstein, utilized dramatic forms to explore power dynamics before the genre shifted toward psychological horror.