Memoirs of the Author of a Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Opening of the book

Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin.
Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin.
MEMOIRS
of the
AUTHOR
of a
VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF
WOMAN.
By WILLIAM GODWIN.
LONDON:
printed for j. johnson, no. 72, st. paul's
church.yard; and g.g. and j. robinson,
paternoster-row.
1798.
CHAP. I
CHAP. II
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.

CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
MEMOIRS.
CHAP. I.
1759-1775.
It has always appeared to me, that to give to 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 carreer. 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

Keep listening free