Godwin on Wollstonecraft: The Life of Mary Wollstonecraft by William Godwin. William Godwin

Wollstonecraft meets Gilbert Imlay in Paris 1794 (May) Fanny Imlay born at Le Havre-Marat Godwin publishes Caleb Williams (novel) 1795 (April) Wollstonecraft returns to London Wollstonecraft travels in Scandinavia Wollstonecraft makes two suicide attempts in London Wollstonecraft publishes Letters Written during a Short Residence in Norway, Denmark and Sweden 1796 (April) Wollstonecraft calls upon Godwin 1797 (March) Godwin and Wollstonecraft marry (30 August) Birth of Mary Godwin (10 September) Death of Mary Wollstonecraft 1798 (January) Godwin publishes Memoirs of the Author of the Rights of Woman (first edition) (August) Godwin publishes Memoirs (second edition) 1801 Godwin publishes St Leon (novel) 1814 Shelley elopes with Mary Godwin 1816 Fanny Imlay (Godwin) commits suicide 1836 Death of William Godwin 1853 Death of Mary Shelley 1892 Centenary edition of A Vindication of the Rights of Women 1927 Third edition of Memoirs, edited by William Clark Durant

MEMOIRS OF THE AUTHOR OF ‘THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN’

       PREFACE

      It has always appeared to me, that to give the public some account of the life of a person of eminent merit deceased, is a duty incumbent on survivors. It seldom happens that such a person passes through life, without being the subject of thoughtless calumny, or malignant misrepresentation. It cannot happen that the public at large should be on a footing with their intimate acquaintance, and be the observer of those virtues which discover themselves principally in personal intercourse. Every benefactor of mankind is more or less influenced by a liberal passion for fame; and survivors only pay a debt due to these benefactors, when they assert and establish on their part, the honour they loved. The justice which is thus done to the illustrious dead, converts into the fairest source of animation and encouragement to those who would follow them in the same career. The human species at large is interested in this justice, as it teaches them to place their respect and affection, upon those qualities which best deserve to be esteemed and loved. I cannot easily prevail on myself to doubt, that the more fully we are presented with the picture and story of such persons as the subject of the following narrative, the more generally shall we feel in ourselves an attachment to their fate, and a sympathy in their excellencies. There are not many individuals with whose character the public welfare and improvement are more intimately connected, than the author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.