Frankenstein

Mary Shelley (1797–1851) was an English writer best known as the author of Frankenstein, one of the earliest and most influential works of science fiction and Gothic literature. She was born in London to philosopher William Godwin and feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft. After her mother’s death, Shelley was raised in an intellectual environment that encouraged reading and creative thinking.

In 1816, during a stay in Switzerland with her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley and other writers, she conceived the idea for Frankenstein as part of a ghost-story challenge. The novel, published in 1818, tells the story of Victor Frankenstein and the creature he creates, exploring themes of ambition, responsibility, isolation, and the dangers of unchecked scientific pursuit.

Beyond Frankenstein, Shelley wrote several other novels, short stories, and essays. Today, she is recognized as a pioneering female author whose work continues to influence literature, film, and discussions about science and ethics.