Frankenstein

There can be few books as well-known as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Adapted for stage, film and radio over 100 times, this chilling gothic tale is thought by some to be the very first science-fiction novel. Written in 1816, when Shelley was just 18, her story of a hideous monster of superhuman strength is indebted to contemporary scientific experiments and philosophical debates and is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist, becomes consumed by the ambition to create life through a groundbreaking experiment, only to recoil in horror at the being he brings into existence. Abandoned and rejected by society, the creature struggles with loneliness and anger, leading both creator and creation down a path of revenge and tragedy. The story explores the dangers of unchecked ambition, the need for human connection, and the consequences of taking responsibility for one’s actions.

There can be few books as well-known as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Adapted for stage, film and radio over 100 times, this chilling gothic tale is thought by some to be the very first science-fiction novel. Written in 1816, when Shelley was just 18, her story of a hideous monster of superhuman strength is indebted to contemporary scientific experiments and philosophical debates and is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

Sparked by a literary competition suggested by Lord Byron, Mary Shelley created her powerful masterpiece about a scientist who, in the process of unlocking the secrets of life, unleashes a monster.