Like her excellent previous novel, The Lionness of Boston, Franklin’s latest explores the life of a woman who doesn’t quite fit in with those around her. Love and Other Monsters (David R. Godine, April 2026) is narrated by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s half-sister, Claire Claremont, an often-overlooked member of the famous group that produced Frankenstein in the summer of 1816. The neglect of her perspective isn’t surprising; unlike the other habitués of the Villa Diodati, she wasn’t touched with literary genius. This is the story an “ordinary” young woman whose trajectory is shaped by the extraordinary people and events around her as well as her own, sometimes blind, struggles for significance. Passionate; energetic; smart and yet (like most young women her age) often unwise; searching for impact and identity: Claire is vividly portrayed and instantly relatable. Franklin’s rich prose captures Claire’s inner life, her complex relationships with those around her, the texture of her world, and her slow, unsteady maturation with equal insight. Love and Other Monsters is a compelling, poignant read and a resonant addition to the literature exploring a fascinating group at a fascinating moment. Find out more about the book and author at www.emilyfranklin.com.
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| Claire Clairmont in a portrait by Amelia Curran, 1819 |