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The Last Man, by the Author of Frankenstein — Apocalyptic

The Last Man, by the Author of Frankenstein — photo 1

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☣️ Apocalyptic −23%

The Last Man, by the Author of Frankenstein

Name: The Last Man, by the Author of Frankenstein
Price: 22.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781021188182

✍️ Mary Shelley

Reader Score

4.5

(4 reviews)

$22.95 ~~$30.00~~ Save $7.05 (23%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Mary Shelley’s apocalyptic novel follows the final survivor of a global plague.

This edition preserves a public domain text that explores humanity's fragility through the lens of a fictional future. Shelley uses the figure of Lionel Verney to illustrate the collapse of society under the weight of plague and political instability. The narrative does not rely on supernatural monsters but rather on the realistic progression of disease and societal breakdown. The publication by Legare Street Press ensures this historically significant work remains accessible. It provides a stark contrast to her earlier fame, showcasing her ability to envision large-scale catastrophe through a personal, survivor-centric viewpoint.

Key Themes

apocalyptic fiction global plague political upheaval

Literary Context

Mary Shelley wrote this text in the early nineteenth century, long before modern science fiction emerged as a genre. It reflects Romantic era anxieties about progress and disease. The work has been preserved by Legare Street Press to maintain its place in the cultural knowledge base.

Mary Shelley

📚 all books by this author (292) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Jules Verne · H.G. Wells · Colin Wilson's The Omega Point · classic apocalyptic literature

☣️

Apocalyptic

🏛 Legare Street Press 📅 2023 📖 411 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781021188182

📚 This Book in Collections

🧟 Zombie, Plague & Outbreak Horror

📝 Description: The Last Man, by the Author of Frankenstein

The Last Man is an apocalyptic novel set in the late twenty-first century. The narrative centers on Lionel Verney, who moves through a landscape defined by political upheaval and widespread disease. This text stands as a prophetic tale concerning the end of the world, offering readers a glimpse into a future ravaged by plague. Scholars have selected this volume for its cultural importance, viewing it as part of the knowledge base of civilization. The publisher, Legare Street Press, released this edition on July 18, 2023, with ISBN 9781021188182. The work remains in the public domain within the United States and possibly other nations, allowing for free distribution without copyright restrictions. This preservation effort ensures that such significant literature remains generally available to the public. Readers interested in early science fiction or gothic traditions will find this text relevant. It appeals to those who appreciate historical perspectives on disaster and survival. Individuals seeking modern thriller pacing may find the structure less engaging. The book suits collectors of Shelley’s complete works and students of nineteenth-century literature who wish to examine her broader thematic concerns beyond her most famous creation.

💎 Our verdict on The Last Man, by the Author of Frankenstein

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Legare Street Press has preserved this public domain text to ensure its availability, presenting a stark contrast to Shelley’s earlier supernatural fame. The narrative focuses on Lionel Verney amidst a landscape of political upheaval and plague, avoiding monster tropes in favor of realistic societal breakdown. However, individuals seeking modern thriller pacing may find the structure less engaging or slow-moving. It is not recommended for those preferring fast-paced action or supernatural horror over psychological and political decay. Instead, it suits academic readers and collectors who appreciate historical perspectives on disaster.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This volume is essential for collectors of Shelley’s complete works and students of nineteenth-century literature who wish to examine her broader thematic concerns beyond the immediate fame of Frankenstein. It appeals to those interested in early science fiction or gothic traditions, providing a unique historical perspective on disaster and survival through a survivor-centric viewpoint. Readers seeking to understand the fragility of humanity will find value in Shelley’s realistic progression of disease and political instability rather than supernatural elements. While modern thriller enthusiasts may find the pacing less engaging, this text offers significant cultural importance as part of the knowledge base of civilization, ensuring that this historically significant work remains accessible for analyzing large-scale catastrophe.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Readers drawn to gothic atmospheres, early science fiction, or Mary Shelley’s broader literary legacy will appreciate this work. However, those seeking fast-paced modern thrillers or traditional zombie narratives may find the pacing too slow and the focus on political decay unengaging.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 4 reviews

Maya W.

July 25, 2025

Read it in one night

Wanted something for October and it delivered. It pairs well with the classics it is clearly in conversation with. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. Well worth it.

Mark N.

June 19, 2025

Kept me up

Got it as a gift for a friend who loves the genre. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Great value for what you get.

Greg L.

June 1, 2025

I read a lot of horror and I'm picky. There's real craft in how much is left unsaid. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Not exactly. Unlike modern genre fiction focused on reanimated corpses, this novel treats the plague as a realistic, devastating force of nature that dismantles civilization from within, focusing more on psychological despair and political failure than supernatural monsters.

The original text has entered the public domain in the United States and many other countries. This specific digital reprint by Legare Street Press preserves the work for archival purposes, allowing it to be distributed without copyright restrictions while keeping Shelley’s visionary prose accessible.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Published after her seminal Frankenstein, Shelley’s The Last Man stands as a foundational pillar of apocalyptic fiction, bridging Romanticism and early sci-fi. Set in the late 21st century, it shifts from individual monstrosity to collective societal collapse, influenced by the devastating cholera epidemics of her era. This text captures the Victorian anxiety regarding plague and political upheaval, establishing a precedent for dystopian literature that explores humanity’s fragility against both disease and ideological failure.