Joanne Rendell's newest novel, "Out of the Shadows," weaves history with science, greed and romance to tell the story of "Frankenstein" author Mary Shelley and the path of one of her descendants to finding her true self.
Clara, a modern college professor who is engaged to Anthony, an up-and-coming genetic researcher, is dealing with the loss of her beloved mother, a stagnant career and an engagement that has been going on for far too long. While Anthony's star is rising, Clara finds herself always in his shadow, moving from university to university when he gets a new job.
Her mother used to tell stories about how they were related to the famous author Mary Shelley, but Clara never had proof. With Anthony's help, she conducts a DNA test to find out the truth, sending her on a search to find out more about her family's past. Clara throws herself into her research, in part because Anthony is never home, always spending long hours in the lab working on his new cancer drug. But when his behavior starts to become strange, Clara finds herself researching not only Mary Shelley, but the dealings of her own fiancé.
Rendell also explores the background of a young Mary Shelley (born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin), her often tumultuous family life and the beginnings of her romance with the poet Percy Shelley. Although the book ends before Shelley writes her most famous work, the themes explored in "Frankenstein," especially the dark side of science, are mirrored in the story of Clara and Anthony.
Rendell took the time to talk about her latest book, researching Mary Shelley and the joys of autumn in New York.
KC: What gave you the idea to write a book about Mary Shelley and modern science?
JR: I’ve always loved Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein." It’s a wonderful gothic novel, but it’s very thoughtful, daring, and extremely prescient too – even now, two hundred years after it was written. In the novel, Shelley dared to ask “what if?” She looked around at the emerging technologies of her time and she considered their darker sides and how they could turn monstrous (and even make monsters!). I still find it amazing that she wrote such a daring and thoughtful, poignant and provocative novel when she was just nineteen. Not only that, she was living in early nineteenth century Europe when young girls weren’t supposed to think about monsters and science, let alone write about them!
Anyway, I knew I wanted to write a book with Mary Shelley as a primary focus and as I began to read lots of biographies, I fell in love with Shelley more and more. She was fiery and smart, outspoken and thoughtful, a non-conformist and a caring mother. I kept reminding myself, though, that I wasn’t going to write a Shelley biography. "Out of the Shadows" explores the echoes and links between the past, our current moment, and our possible future. I wanted the book to be both about Mary Shelley, but also about how her amazing imagination and insights still resonate today. We live in an era when biomedical research is advancing in incredible and sometimes startling directions and I liked the idea of my book trying to ask the same “what if” question that Shelley asked. I was particularly interested in posing the question, “what if you mix modern science with the pursuit of profit?”
KC: How long did you spend researching this novel?
JR: I spent six months reading every biography on Shelley I could get my hands on. I also read a whole collection of books and articles about modern genetics. When I finally started writing I kept reading more articles and books along the way.
KC: How do you think Clara and Mary are alike?
JR: In many ways, Clara and Mary’s stories in my book are very different. Mary Shelley is a young girl growing up in early nineteenth-century London while Clara is a thirty-something professor who lives in modern day New York City. But there are many similarities and echoes too. Mary and Clara are both on the cusp of finding themselves. They are searching for a way out of the shadows of those around them. For Mary, it is the shadow of her mother’s death, her father’s protection, and the life that doesn’t yet fulfill her. For Clara, she must find a way to live for herself, to pursue her own dreams, and not just follow her fiancé’s career. They are also deeply thoughtful and sensitive women who have a lot to offer the world, they just have to find the strength to do it.
KC: This book raises some ethical questions about science and money. Do you think Anthony would have been so passionate about his new drug if big bucks weren't involved?
JR: I think Anthony was always a passionate and ambitious scientist, but the offer of “big bucks” makes his passion and ambition even more intense. He doesn’t want the money for fast cars or rich-living (!), but he knows that with a lot of financial backing his drug could be a real success. And it is success and prestige that Anthony really craves!
KC: Although "Out of the Shadows" is quite different from your previous books, it also features the same fictional university, Manhattan U. Do you think we'll see more of the school in your future works?
JR: I’m not planning on it at the moment, but you never know! Campus life breeds so many fascinating and compelling stories that I’m sure, in time, Manhattan U. will reappear in my writing.
KC: Are there any new books you're looking forward to reading this fall?
JR: I’m not too good at keeping up with what is about to come out. Between my own writing and homeschooling my son, I have a hard time just keeping up with what came out last year! Nonetheless, I read avidly and this is what is on my current to-be-read pile: "One Day" by David Nicolls (I loved "Starter for Ten" so I'm itching to read this book), "Room" by Emma Donoghue (the premise is dark but I’m curious nevertheless), and "Accidental Family" by Rowan Coleman (I love so much of the women’s fiction that comes out of the UK and Coleman is one of my favorites).
KC: As a resident of NYC, tell us your favorite autumn activities in New York.
JR: In no particular order: Jumping in the leaves in Central Park (actually, my son does most of the jumping and I stand on the sidelines with cool mama friends drinking hot tea!). Going upstate to New Paltz – a great little NY town where we spend a lot of time – and seeing the fantastic pumpkin carving competition at a local café called The Bakery. Walking in the woods near New Paltz and marveling at the beautiful changing leaves!
KC: What's up next for you?
JR: I just finished a draft of middle grade book, co-written with a friend. Kid’s fiction is new for me, but it has been great fun writing the book and figuring out the tricks and conventions of the middle-grade genre. I’m currently working on a new women’s fiction book idea. The book is not fully worked out, but I will say this…Emily Dickinson!
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