Frankenstein

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley and first published in 1818, is a gothic novel that explores themes of creation, ambition, isolation, and the consequences of unchecked scientific pursuit. Set against the backdrop of the early 19th century, during the Romantic era, the novel reflects the period's fascination with nature, the human condition, and the emerging field of science. Shelley was influenced by the intellectual climate of her time, particularly the scientific advancements and the philosophical debates about human nature and ethics.

The novel centers on Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who becomes obsessed with creating life and defying the natural order. His experiment leads to the creation of a creature, which is both monstrous in appearance and tragic in its existence. As Shelley weaves a tale of personal ambition, moral dilemmas, and the search for acceptance, Frankenstein raises questions about the responsibilities of creators toward their creations and the consequences of disregarding moral boundaries in the pursuit of knowledge.

At the time it was written, the Industrial Revolution was underway, and Shelley's work can be seen as a critique of the era's rapid technological advancements and the ethical implications of pushing the boundaries of human power. Frankenstein has since become a cornerstone of gothic literature and a precursor to modern science fiction.

223 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2024

About the author

Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, often known as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, travel writer, and editor of the works of her husband, Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. She was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the writer, philosopher, and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.

Mary Shelley was taken seriously as a writer in her own lifetime, though reviewers often missed the political edge to her novels. After her death, however, she was chiefly remembered only as the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein. It was not until 1989, when Emily Sunstein published her prizewinning biography Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality, that a full-length scholarly biography analyzing all of Shelley's letters, journals, and works within their historical context was published.

The well-meaning attempts of Mary Shelley's son and daughter-in-law to "Victorianise" her memory through the censoring of letters and biographical material contributed to a perception of Mary Shelley as a more conventional, less reformist figure than her works suggest. Her own timid omissions from Percy Shelley's works and her quiet avoidance of public controversy in the later years of her life added to this impression.

The eclipse of Mary Shelley's reputation as a novelist and biographer meant that, until the last thirty years, most of her works remained out of print, obstructing a larger view of her achievement. She was seen as a one-novel author, if that. In recent decades, however, the republication of almost all her writings has stimulated a new recognition of its value. Her voracious reading habits and intensive study, revealed in her journals and letters and reflected in her works, is now better appreciated. Shelley's recognition of herself as an author has also been recognized; after Percy's death, she wrote about her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea". Scholars now consider Mary Shelley to be a major Romantic figure, significant for her literary achievement and her political voice as a woman and a liberal.