by Liz Mackie
First published 2024
A plague spreads across the globe, leaving humanity to face its final days. Lionel Verney watches civilization crumble as the disease claims everyone he loves. His companions include characters modeled on Percy Shelley and Lord Byron, poets who debate philosophy while death approaches. Women with fierce convictions and passionate natures confront the catastrophe with remarkable courage. As cities empty and governments collapse, Verney travels through a dying world, witnessing both human nobility and desperation. The survivors form bonds that transcend class and nationality, yet the plague continues its relentless advance. Verney must decide whether to rage against extinction or find meaning in humanity's final chapter. Originally published in 1826 to harsh reviews, Mary Shelley's second novel receives new life through Liz Mackie's careful revision. This pandemic story explores grief, isolation, and the bonds that sustain us when everything familiar disappears.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 19th-century, apocalyptic
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, philosophical-debate
Period: 19th-century
Kindle Edition · Nostalgistudio
Content warnings: death