Gregory O’Dea argues “that The Last Man explores Shelley’s interest in historical narrative, and specifically her concerns with the nature and demands of historical writing” (283). O’Dea purports that the novel’s temporal themes and historical view are directly linked with its textuality. The notion that The Last Man has a self-consciousness that is created and informed by concerns with prophetic history and time is also advanced along the course of the article. Extended commentary can be found here.