"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."— Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
The teen who invented Frankenstein
Mary was born into one of the most famous families in London. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a pioneering feminist writer who died when Mary was just 10 days old. Her father, William Godwin, was a famous philosopher.
Mary was raised on books, conversation, and big ideas. By 16 she'd fallen in love with a wild young poet named Percy Bysshe Shelley. They ran away together. Her father was furious.
Quick Facts
- Born: August 30, 1797
- From: London, England
- Job: Author of Frankenstein and other novels
- Famous for: Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus
Mary started Frankenstein at age 18 and finished it at 19. It was first published in 1818, anonymously, because some people wouldn't take a woman writer seriously. It was an instant sensation.
Her Famous Stories
Read Shelley's stories on Worldly
Frankenstein is one of the most important books ever written. On Worldly, every page is adapted to your reading level.
Her Life, Year by Year
From orphaned baby to literary giant
Mary's life had as much tragedy as her novels, but her work changed fiction forever.
Born to a famous family
Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin is born in London. Her mother dies 10 days later. Her father raises her on philosophy and politics.
Bookish teen
As a teen, Mary reads constantly and meets the literary stars who visit her father, including the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
She runs away with Percy
At 16, Mary falls in love with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. They run away to Europe together, a huge scandal.
The summer that birthed Frankenstein
Mary, Percy, Lord Byron, and Byron's doctor John Polidori vacation together in Switzerland. Bad weather keeps them indoors. They have a ghost-story contest. Mary's idea, born from a nightmare, becomes Frankenstein.
Frankenstein is published
The first edition of Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus is published anonymously. It's an instant hit.
Percy drowns
Mary's husband Percy drowns in a sailing accident in Italy. She is 24, with one young son. She returns to England.
The Last Man
Mary publishes The Last Man, a novel set in the year 2073 about a plague that wipes out most of humanity. One of the earliest apocalyptic novels ever written.
Frankenstein with her name on it
A new edition of Frankenstein comes out, this time with Mary Shelley's name on the cover.
She dies in London
Mary dies in London at age 53 of a brain tumor. Her surviving son is by her side. Frankenstein has by now become a worldwide sensation.
What She Invented
Three big firsts in Frankenstein
Mary Shelley didn't just write a scary book. She invented a whole new genre.
Frankenstein · 1818
Science fiction
Many call Frankenstein the FIRST science-fiction novel. It's about a real scientist using real science to create life. No magic, no fairies, just science with consequences.
Frankenstein · 1818
The misunderstood monster
In Mary's book, the "monster" is intelligent, lonely, and tries to be good, but everyone is terrified of him. He becomes a monster because people treat him like one. This is a huge idea that's been retold a thousand times.
Frankenstein · 1818
Scientist hubris
Doctor Frankenstein tries to play God by creating life. It goes badly. Almost every "mad scientist" story since, Jurassic Park, Jekyll and Hyde, The Island of Dr. Moreau, owes Mary's idea.
Wait… really?!
Six surprising things about Mary Shelley
She was just 18 when she started Frankenstein
Mary had the idea for Frankenstein at 18 during a stormy summer in Switzerland. She finished the novel at 19. It was published when she was 20.
Her mom was a famous feminist
Mary's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was one of the first feminists in English history. She wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, a landmark book about why women deserved equal rights.
Frankenstein was anonymous at first
Because some readers wouldn't accept a woman writing serious horror, Frankenstein was first published anonymously. Many people assumed her husband had written it. Only in 1831 did Mary put her name on the cover.
The 'monster' has no name
In the book, the creature has NO name. People call him 'the monster' or 'the creature.' 'Frankenstein' was the SCIENTIST'S name, Victor Frankenstein. People often get this confused.
Lord Byron was at the famous summer
Lord Byron, one of the most famous poets ever, was vacationing with Mary that summer. He started a vampire story that became 'The Vampyre' by his doctor John Polidori. That's the great-grandfather of Dracula.
She lost three of her four children
Three of Mary's four children died young, a tragedy that haunted her writing. Only her son Percy Florence Shelley survived to adulthood.
Good questions, answered
Mary Shelley FAQ
Is Frankenstein the monster or the scientist?+
The SCIENTIST is named Victor Frankenstein. The creature he creates has no name in the book, he's just 'the creature' or 'the monster.' Over time, people started calling the creature 'Frankenstein' too, but that's a mix-up.
How old was Mary when she wrote Frankenstein?+
She started the book at age 18 and finished it at 19. It was published in 1818 when she was 20, anonymously at first.
What was the famous summer?+
In 1816, Mary, her boyfriend Percy Shelley, the poet Lord Byron, and Byron's doctor John Polidori vacationed together in Switzerland. A volcanic eruption had made the summer freezing and rainy. Trapped indoors, they had a ghost-story contest. Mary's idea, sparked by a nightmare, became Frankenstein.
What age is Frankenstein good for?+
The original is for older readers (probably 12+) due to dense language and dark themes. The Worldly version is adapted for ages 9 and up, with the scariest moments gently handled and the language simplified.
Did the monster talk in the original book?+
YES, and beautifully. In the original, the creature is intelligent, articulate, and lonely. He teaches himself to read by watching a family through their window. He tries to be good. This is very different from the silent, grunting monster in old Hollywood movies.
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