 Italy provided the Shelleys , Byron , and other exiles with a political freedom unattainable at home . Despite its associations with personal loss , Italy became for Mary Shelley " a country which memory painted as paradise " . Their Italian years were a time of intense intellectual and creative activity for both Shelleys . While Percy composed a series of major poems , Mary wrote the autobiographical novel Matilda , the historical novel Valperga , and the plays Proserpine and Midas . Mary wrote Valperga to help alleviate her father 's financial difficulties , as Percy refused to assist him further . She was often physically ill , however , and prone to depressions . She also had to cope with Percy ’ s interest in other women , such as Sophia Stacey , Emilia Viviani , and Jane Williams . Since Mary Shelley shared his belief in the non @-@ exclusivity of marriage , she formed emotional ties of her own among the men and women of their circle . She became particularly fond of the Greek revolutionary Prince Alexander Mavrocordato and of Jane and Edward Williams . 
