The Last Man

by Mary Shelley
The Last Man cover
Good Books rating 3.9
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Technical:
  • ID: 1161
  • Added: 2025-09-27
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9780192838650
  • Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks
  • Published: 1998-07-16
  • Formats: 85
  • Reviews: 3
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Paperback • £3.99–£12.99
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Format • £3.79–£12.34

The Last Man by Mary Shelley is a haunting exploration of the end of human civilization, set in the late twenty-first century. It presents a bleak and inevitable destruction of mankind, intertwined with idealized depictions of Shelley and Byron, while challenging the Romantic ideals of art and nature. /n/n This novel stands as a pioneering work in apocalyptic fiction, offering a somber reflection on humanity's fate. Shelley's intricate weaving of personal tributes and philosophical questioning makes it a unique and thought-provoking read.

Reviews
nsfordwriter.com · N S Ford · 2025-09-27
grim 3.50

The book is beautifully written and poetic but also one of the grimmest and most depressing reads. The vivid descriptions and dramatic tone make it a memorable experience.

The reviewer found The Last Man to be a beautifully written and poetic novel, with a dramatic tone that enhances its narrative. However, they also describe it as one of the grimmest and most depressing books they've ever read. The vivid descriptions and emotional depth make it a memorable experience, though the bleakness may not be for everyone. The reviewer appreciates the literary quality but cautions that the story's pessimism is quite intense.

Quick quotes

    The Last Man is beautifully written, poetic and dramatic.

    It's also one of the grimmest and most depressing books I've ever read.

    The vivid descriptions and emotional depth make it a memorable experience.

lit.newcity.com · 2024-04-11
thought-provoking 4.00

The novel's exploration of a plague wiping out humanity is timely and thought-provoking. The emotional impact of the story's loss and loneliness is deeply felt.

The reviewer highlights how Mary Shelley's The Last Man presents a timely and thought-provoking exploration of a plague that wipes out humanity. The emotional impact of the story's loss and loneliness is deeply felt, making it a poignant read. The novel's themes resonate strongly in the context of modern global pandemics, adding a layer of relevance and urgency to the narrative. The reviewer appreciates the novel's ability to evoke a sense of history and personal loss, making it a compelling and emotionally charged experience.

Quick quotes

    In Mary Shelley's “The Last Man,” an 1826 novel that comes to us now in a new Penguin Classics edition, it is a plague that sweeps the earth clean of humanity.

    The emotional impact of the story's loss and loneliness is deeply felt.

    The novel's themes resonate strongly in the context of modern global pandemics.

skullsinthestars.com · 2009-04-23
intense 4.20

The novel starts slow but builds to a deeply emotional and intense climax. The prose is beautiful, and the imagery of nature is particularly striking.

The reviewer initially found The Last Man slow-going but appreciated how it builds in intensity and emotional impact as the story progresses. The prose is described as beautiful, with particularly striking imagery of nature. The emotional depth and intensity of the climax left a lasting impression on the reviewer. They highlight the novel's ability to evoke deep feelings and create a memorable reading experience, despite a somewhat slow start.

Quick quotes

    The novel, though I found it slow-going at first, builds in intensity and emotional impact to a level which eventually affected me deeply.

    The prose is beautiful, with particularly striking imagery of nature.

    The emotional depth and intensity of the climax left a lasting impression.

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