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Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in Somers Town, in London, England in 1797. She was the second daughter of famed feminist, educator and writer Mary Wollstonecraft. Her father was the equally famous anarchist philosopher, novelist, journalist, and atheist dissenter, William Godwin. Her mother died ten days after Mary was born as a result of puerperal fever. A few years later her father, Godwin, met and married Mary Jane Clairmont, a widow with two young children. Mary had a rocky relationship with her step- mother, who was jealoud of the attention Mary used to receive. She made Mary do many of the household chores, invaded her privacy, and restricted her access to her father. In July 1814, Mary married her longtime love Percy. At their marriage was perfect, but it soon began to get troubled once Mary realized how narcissistic Percy was. Even more devastating for Mary, however, was the events surrounding the birth and death of her first child, Clara, in February of 1815. Born two months prematurely, Clara was a sickly child and was not expected to live. Nonetheless, Percy left Mary to nurse the child on her own and to entertain Thomas Hogg, while he went on walks and errands with Claire, and consulted the doctor for his own weak heart. When the child died early in March, Mary fell into a deep depression, yet Percy was again indifferent to her and spent more time with Claire than his primary partner.

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