The Clairmont Family Journals 1855-1885

This edition presents the extant journals of Pauline Clairmont (1825–1891) and Wilhelm Clairmont (1831–1895), the niece and nephew of Claire Clairmont (1798–1879) who was Mary Shelley’s (1797–1851) stepsister. It also includes a journal originally attributed to Pauline but which likely was Walter Gaulis Clairmont’s (1868–1958; Wilhelm’s son). All three journals are currently deposited in the Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle at the New York Public Library. Pauline and Wilhelm spent many years living and working in places like Australia and the Banat and their adventures are recorded in their journals. Pauline wrote a series of sixteen journals cataloguing her life; however, except for one journal, all the remaining journals have been lost. Her extant journal, written primarily in English but with French and German entries, documents her struggles in the Australian outback during the 1850s and her relationship with William Henry Suttor, Junior, who would later become a pastoralist and a politician. Pauline’s journal tells of her love for Suttor, her disappointment at his rejection, and her musings about her life in Australia. In his journal, Wilhelm chronicles his attempts to purchase a farm in Europe while Walter provides us with an account of his 8-day Austrian expedition. This new edition brings together these three journals, thereby extending our understanding of the Shelley-Clairmont family. The edition includes an introduction to the primary Godwin-Shelley-Clairmont circle and a chapter on the history of life writing. The editor provides extensive editorial notes and carefully researched chapters to contextualize The Clairmont Family Journals: 1855–1885.

About the Author

Sharon L. Joffe is Assistant Professor in the Department of English, Lamar University, USA