Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)

Discussion questions for Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)

Bring these to your book club — or discuss them with readers on Readfeed.

1. 1

   How does Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s perspective as a pioneering creative writer herself shape the way she interprets and evaluates the literary lives of her French subjects?

2. 2

   In what ways does Shelley balance the public achievements of these eminent figures with the private struggles, flaws, and vulnerabilities of their daily lives?

3. 3

   When reading about the intellectual and scientific climate of France as viewed through a 19th-century English lens, how do cultural biases or national rivalries color the narrative?