as fanny imlay grew up, her father increasingly relied on her to placate tradespeople who demanded bills be paid and to solicit money from men such as place. according to todd and seymour, imlay believed in godwin's theory that great thinkers and artists should be supported by patrons and she believed godwin to be both a great novelist and a great philosopher. throughout her life, she wrote letters asking place and others for money to support godwin's "genius" and she helped run the household so that he could work.