Mary Shelley's groundbreaking science fiction novel, 'The Last Man,' presents a harrowing vision of the future. Set in the late twenty-first century, the story is told by Lionel Verney, the sole survivor of a devastating global plague. He chronicles the gradual collapse of human civilization, the tragic loss of his friends and family, and his profound journey through an empty world. It is a powerful and somber exploration of human ambition, political turmoil, and ultimate solitude, questioning the essence of progress and the endurance of hope in the face of complete annihilation.