The Love Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft to Gilbert Imlay by Mary Wollstonecraft

These letters, written by Mary Wollstonecraft to the man for whom she conceived a passion that was to bring her so much suffering, are among the most remarkable documents of their kind in the English language. They reveal a woman of powerful intellect and passionate heart, whose struggles for independence and fulfilment are laid bare with a candour that is at once admirable and painful. The letters are edited with a judicious introduction by Mr. Roger Ingpen, who has also included some of Wollstonecraft's essays and miscellaneous writings. The whole forms a volume of unusual interest, not only for the light it throws on the character of a remarkable woman, but for the picture it gives of the intellectual and social life of the late eighteenth century.

It is impossible to read these letters without a feeling of profound respect for the woman who wrote them. They are the record of a passionate and tortured heart, but they are also the record of a mind of remarkable power and independence. Mary Wollstonecraft is entitled to be remembered not merely as the mother of Mary Shelley and the wife of William Godwin, but as a writer and thinker of genuine distinction. These letters, which are now published for the first time in a complete form, reveal the woman behind the reputation, and they are at once touching and inspiring.

After reading her Vindication of the Rights of Woman I was so excited to read these letters but honestly? Theyre depressing. Girl really said "he doesnt even like me" for 80 pages. Its important historically but its hard to read someone being treated so badly and just... taking it. I wanted to reach through time and shake her. Still 4 stars because her writing is beautiful even when shes heartbroken.

These letters give us such a raw intimate look at one of historys most important women. You see Wollstonecraft not as the icon but as a person — heartbroken, desperate, loving too much. The introduction provides good context about her relationship with Imlay. My only complaint is the editor included too many footnotes that interupt the flow. Let the letters speak for themselves.

Reading these letters made me cry. Mary Wollstonecraft loved this man so deeply and you can feel her desperation and devotion in every word. Knowing how the story ends (spoiler: he leaves her) makes it even more tragic. Shes so honest about her feelings — the anger, the hope, the despair. Essential reading for anyone who thinks of her as just a feminist icon. She was so human.