Revolutionary Women

After the publication of "Frankenstein," Mary Shelley continued to navigate a life marked by personal tragedy and literary accomplishment. She faced the deaths of several loved ones, including her husband Percy Shelley in 1822. Despite these losses, Mary persisted in her writing career, producing novels, essays, and biographies. She also devoted herself to preserving Percy Shelley's literary legacy. Throughout her later years, Mary Shelley maintained her status as a respected literary figure, though she faced financial difficulties. Her legacy endures not only through "Frankenstein" but also through her other works, which continue to be studied and celebrated for their exploration of complex themes and human nature. Sources Wikipedia: Mary Shelley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Shelley

Britannica: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft-Shelley

Biography: Mary Shelley: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/mary-shelley

The Mccarter Center: Mary Shelley’s Haunted Life: https://www.mccarter.org/season/2019-2020/edps/frankensteinmary-shelleys-haunted-life/

Wordpress: stuff ‘n other stuff: Mary Shelley and the Dundee Radicals: https://moncurdg.com/2020/08/16/mary-shelley-and-the-dundee-radicals/

Ready for polyamory blog: Mary Shelley would have been happier if she had a polyamorous community parts I II and III

https://www.readyforpolyamory.com/post/mary-shelley-would-have-been-happier-if-she-had-a-polyamorous-community

https://www.readyforpolyamory.com/post/mary-shelley-part-ii

https://www.readyforpolyamory.com/post/mary-shelley-part-iii

Wikipedia: Claire Clairmont: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Clairmont

Wordsworth Grasmere: Fictionalising 1816: The Suicide of Fanny Imlay: https://wordsworth.org.uk/blog/2016/10/09/fictionalising-1816-the-death-of-fanny-imlay/

Britannica: Frankenstein: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Frankenstein

Wikipedia: Mathilda (novella): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathilda_(novella)

Wikipedia: Valperga (novel): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valperga_(novel)

Before writing "Frankenstein," Mary Shelley led a life marked by tragedy and literary influence. Born in 1797 to Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin, both influential intellectuals, she was raised in an environment steeped in radical thought and literary discussion. At 16, she eloped with Percy Bysshe Shelley, embarking on a tumultuous relationship that endured financial struggles and personal loss, including the deaths of their children. In 1816, during a summer spent with Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others in Switzerland, Mary conceived the idea for "Frankenstein" during a ghost story competition. This seminal work, published anonymously in 1818, would go on to shape not only her literary legacy but also the landscape of Gothic literature as a whole. Sources Wikipedia: Mary Shelley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Shelley

Britannica: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft-Shelley

Biography: Mary Shelley: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/mary-shelley

The Mccarter Center: Mary Shelley’s Haunted Life: https://www.mccarter.org/season/2019-2020/edps/frankensteinmary-shelleys-haunted-life/

Wordpress: stuff ‘n other stuff: Mary Shelley and the Dundee Radicals: https://moncurdg.com/2020/08/16/mary-shelley-and-the-dundee-radicals/

Ready for polyamory blog: Mary Shelley would have been happier if she had a polyamorous community parts I II and III

https://www.readyforpolyamory.com/post/mary-shelley-would-have-been-happier-if-she-had-a-polyamorous-community

https://www.readyforpolyamory.com/post/mary-shelley-part-ii

https://www.readyforpolyamory.com/post/mary-shelley-part-iii

Wikipedia: Claire Clairmont: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Clairmont

Wordsworth Grasmere: Fictionalising 1816: The Suicide of Fanny Imlay: https://wordsworth.org.uk/blog/2016/10/09/fictionalising-1816-the-death-of-fanny-imlay/

Britannica: Frankenstein: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Frankenstein

Wikipedia: Mathilda (novella): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathilda_(novella)

Wikipedia: Valperga (novel): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valperga_(novel)

When British writer and female philosopher, Mary Wollstonecraft, went to Paris in December of 1782, she was looking to find out exactly what was going on on the ground of the French Revolution. What she found was fear and anxiety in the fact of the Reign of Terror, but also found safety and security with 2 great loves of her life.

Join us as we talk about the first orn in 1759 in London, England, Wollstonecraft grew up in a financially unstable family. Her father's mismanagement of the family finances led to frequent relocations and financial difficulties. Despite this, Wollstonecraft was self-educated and developed a passion for literature and learning.

In her early years, Wollstonecraft worked as a governess and later opened a school with her sisters. Dissatisfied with the limited opportunities available to women and inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, she moved to Paris in 1792, where we are going to end for Part 1 of our installment on the Wollstonecraft Women Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Mary Wollstonecraft: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/wollstonecraft

Britannica: Mary Wollstonecraft: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft

Wikipedia: Mary Wollstonecraft: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wollstonecraft

University of North Carolina: Towards emancipation? Women in Modern European History: Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797): https://hist259.web.unc.edu/marywollstonecraft/

Taylor and Francis Online: Female Philosophy in the bedroom: Mary Wollstonecraft and female sexuality: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09699089700200014

American Literature: Mary: A Fiction eBook: https://americanliterature.com/author/mary-wollstonecraft/book/mary-a-fiction/summary

Wikipedia: Mary a fiction: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary:_A_Fiction#:~:text=Mary%3A%20A%20Fiction%20is%20the,a%20woman%20and%20a%20man

Wikipedia: Republic of Letters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Letters

Wikipedia: Analytical Review: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_Review

Wikipedia: The Blue Stockings Society: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Stockings_Society

Wikipedia: Reflections on the Revolution in France: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflections_on_the_Revolution_in_France

Wikipedia: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Vindication_of_the_Rights_of_Woman

This is the second of a two episode dive into the life of Martha Washington, beyond her marriage to george washington and her time spent as the First first lady. In this shorter episode, we go over her time spent as first lady, her retirement with George and the death of both of them as well. Ways we can help Black Women and Girls today:

The Loveland Foundation: https://thelovelandfoundation.org

Black Women’s Health Imperative: https://bwhi.org

Black Mamas Matter Allicance: https://blackmamasmatter.org

Sources:

Picture: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martha_Washington_LCCN2003688621.jpg

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Biography of Martha Washington: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/biography/

Geroge Washington’s Mount Vernon: Martha Washington’s Early Life: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/early-life-birth-family-of-origin/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Martha Washington’s First Marriage and Children: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/marthas-first-marriage-children/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: George and Martha’s Courtship: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/george-marthas-courtship/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Martha Washington at the front: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/martha-at-the-front/

George Washignton’s Mount Vernon: Martha Washington as a slaveowner: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/martha-washington-as-a-slaveowner/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: First Lady Martha Washington’s trip to new york: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/martha-washingtons-inaugural-trip-to-washington/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: The First Lady: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/the-first-first-lady/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: From Slavery to Freedom: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/from-slavery-to-freedom/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: The Deaths of George and Martha: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/the-deaths-of-george-martha/martha

We are doing a two episode dive into the life of Martha Washington, beyond her marriage to george washington and her time spent as the First first lady. Ways we can help Black Women and Girls today:

The Loveland Foundation: https://thelovelandfoundation.org

Black Women’s Health Imperative: https://bwhi.org

Black Mamas Matter Allicance: https://blackmamasmatter.org

Sources:

Picture: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martha_Washington_LCCN2003688621.jpg

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Biography of Martha Washington: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/biography/

Geroge Washington’s Mount Vernon: Martha Washington’s Early Life: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/early-life-birth-family-of-origin/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Martha Washington’s First Marriage and Children: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/marthas-first-marriage-children/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: George and Martha’s Courtship: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/george-marthas-courtship/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Martha Washington at the front: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/martha-at-the-front/

George Washignton’s Mount Vernon: Martha Washington as a slaveowner: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/martha-washington-as-a-slaveowner/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: First Lady Martha Washington’s trip to new york: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/martha-washingtons-inaugural-trip-to-washington/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: The First Lady: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/the-first-first-lady/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: From Slavery to Freedom: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/slavery/from-slavery-to-freedom/

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: The Deaths of George and Martha: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/the-deaths-of-george-martha/martha

Today we are talking about one of the forgotten philosophers from the age of enlightenment within the French Revolution, the salon hostess queen of paris, Sophie de Grouchy/Condorcet, born in 1764, was a prominent figure of the French Enlightenment and an advocate for women's rights and education. Married to the renowned mathematician and philosopher Nicolas, Le Marquis de Condorcet, she actively participated in intellectual circles, engaging in discussions on politics, science, and social reform. Sophie ardently supported her husband's progressive ideas, including universal suffrage and the abolition of slavery. Following the French Revolution, she courageously defended her husband during his political persecution by revolutionary factions. After Condorcet's death in 1794, Sophie dedicated herself to preserving his legacy and continued to champion causes such as women's access to education and political participation. Despite facing adversity in a tumultuous era, Sophie de Condorcet's commitment to enlightenment ideals and social justice left a lasting impact on French society. We hope you join us for a special solo episode from Emily as she dives into one of the forgotten philosophers Sources:

Wikipedia: Sophie de Condorcet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_de_Condorcet

Library of Congress: Sophie de Condorcet: https://guides.loc.gov/women-in-the-french-revolution/sophie-de-condorcet

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Sophie de Grouchy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/sophie-de-grouchy/

The New Historian: Sophie de Grouchy: https://thenewhistoria.org/schema/sophie-de-grouchy/

Britannica: The Reign of Terror: https://www.britannica.com/event/Reign-of-Terror

Britannica: Jacques Hérbert: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jacques-Hebert

Britannica: The National Convention: https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Convention

Britannica: The Committee of Public Safety: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Committee-of-Public-Safety

We are diving into the story of George Washington’s mother, and how he was not the best son to her. If you are a George Washington enthusiast this is not the episode for you, cause wooh we’ve got a lot to unpack, maybe even to much for Freud himself. Mary Ball Washington, born in 1708, was the mother of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Her life was characterized by resilience and fortitude in the face of personal tragedy and challenges. Widowed at a relatively young age, Mary raised her five children on her own, instilling in them principles of discipline, duty, and integrity. While her relationship with George was often strained, she played a significant role in shaping his character and values. Mary lived through the tumultuous years of colonial America, witnessing the stirrings of revolution and the birth of a new nation. Despite the hardships she faced, Mary Ball Washington's legacy endures as a testament to the strength and perseverance of America's founding generation Links for ways we can help Black women and girls today: The Loveland Foundation: https://thelovelandfoundation.org Black Women’s Health Imperative: https://bwhi.org Black Mamas Mater Allicance: https://blackmamasmatter.org Sources: George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Mary Ball Washington: Who Raised George Washington Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/Y7XcoYLUnSQ?si=lCHxPHzaLWJz2VDa

Encyclopedia Virginia: Indentured Servants in Colonial Virginia: https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/indentured-servants-in-colonial-virginia/#:~:text=Indentured%20servants%20were%20men%20and,food%2C%20clothing%2C%20and%20shelter

Bartley.com: The Six Social Classes in the English Colonies: https://www.bartleby.com/essay/The-Six-Social-Classes-In-The-English-PC7X3TZXT#

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Mary Ball Washington’s Battle with Breast Cancer: https://www.mountvernon.org/blog/2018/10/mary-ball-washington-s-battle-with-breast-cancer/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ball_Washington

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Mary Ball Washington: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/mary-ball-washington/

We are talking tension in this episode in the years leading up to the American Revolution, tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain were driven by a combination of political, economic, and ideological factors. Colonists increasingly resented British taxation policies, such as the Stamp Act and the Tea Act, which they viewed as unfair and imposed without their consent. Additionally, British attempts to assert greater control over colonial affairs through measures like the Intolerable Acts fueled resentment and a sense of injustice among the colonists. Ideologically, Enlightenment principles of individual rights and self-governance inspired many colonists to challenge the authority of the British crown and demand greater autonomy. As these tensions escalated and diplomatic efforts failed to address colonial grievances, the stage was set for the outbreak of revolution in 1775 at Lexington and Concord. Sources:

Britannica: Timeline of the American Revolution: https://www.britannica.com/list/timeline-of-the-american-revolution

Britannica: Lost Colony: https://www.britannica.com/place/Lost-Colony

Britannica: The Lost Colony of Roanoke https://www.britannica.com/story/the-lost-colony-of-roanoke

Britannica: French and Indian War https://www.britannica.com/event/French-and-Indian-War/British-advantages-and-victory

Britannica: Molasses Act: https://www.britannica.com/event/Molasses-Act

Britannica: Sugar Act

https://www.britannica.com/event/Sugar-Act

Britannica: the Stamp Act: https://www.britannica.com/event/Stamp-Act-Great-Britain-1765

Britannica: The Townshend Acts: https://www.britannica.com/event/Townshend-Acts

Britannica: The boston Massacre: https://www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Massacre/Aftermath-and-agitprop

Britannica: The boston Tea Party: https://www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Tea-Party

Britannica: The Intolerable Acts: https://www.britannica.com/event/Intolerable-Acts

Britannica: Continental Congress: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Continental-Congress

Join us as we go over the years preceding the French Revolution, France was rife with social, economic, and political tensions. The monarchy, led by Louis XVI, faced deep financial crises exacerbated by excessive spending, wars, and a regressive tax system that burdened the common people while exempting the nobility and clergy. Social inequality was rampant, with the privileged classes enjoying lavish lifestyles at the expense of the impoverished Third Estate. Additionally, Enlightenment ideas questioning the legitimacy of monarchy and advocating for liberty, equality, and fraternity spread throughout the nation, fueling discontent among intellectuals and the populace. As grievances mounted and calls for reform went unheeded, simmering resentment boiled over into revolution in 1789. Sources:

The History Channel: The French Revolution https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/french-revolution#

The History Channel: This Day in History July 14th, 1789 French revolutionaries storm the bastille https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille

Britannica: storming of the bastille: https://www.britannica.com/event/storming-of-the-Bastille

Britannica: French Revolution: https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution

Swansea University: The long and Short reasons for Why Revolution broke out in France in 1789, A study guide by Swansea University Historians: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/history/history-study-guides/the-long-and-short-reasons-for-why-revolution-broke-out-in-france-in-1789/