The Last Man is an apocalyptic, dystopian science fiction novel by Mary
Shelley, first published in 1826. The narrative concerns Europe in the
late 21st century, ravaged by a mysterious pandemic illness that rapidly
sweeps across the entire globe, ultimately resulting in the near
extinction of humanity. Once part of the most significant social circle
of second-generation Romantic poet-intellectuals, Shelley now found
herself almost alone in the world. As it kills off character after
character, The Last Man recreates this history of loss along with its
author's crushing sense of loneliness.