Mother of Monsters

Trigger warning for discussions of infant death: 38:10 - 38:55 The monster, the myth, the legend: Frankenstein. You know him, you love him, and you love to tell people that ACTUALLY, Dr. Frankenstein was the REAL monster, and the monster's name isn’t Frankenstein. But who do we have to thank for this cultural phenomenon? The ground breaking novel was the radical, brilliant creation of a teenage girl with a sharp mind and a very complicated life. This week, we’re talking about Mary Shelley, the writer who accidentally invented modern science fiction, horror, and the mad scientist archetype all at once. From The Year Without a Summer to grief, motherhood, and intellectual rebellion, we explore how Mary’s life shaped the monster we can’t stop retelling. There is so much to her, including the constant drama she was surrounded by, and the legacy some may say she far surpassed. This isn’t just the story of a book, it’s the story of how one woman’s imagination rewired pop culture forever. So grab a quill and stay away from sailboats, because this episode, we’re learning about the Mother of science fiction! CORRECTIONS: Regarding the Greek Mythology of Prometheus, he was the god that created humans, which is the parallel alluded to in Frankenstein. He did also bring fire to humans against the wishes of Zeus! Also, Nosferatu was never a book, it was originally created as a movie. See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! SOURCES National Review - Mary Shelley among the Radicals Literary Hub - Did Mary Shelley actually lose her virginity to Percy on top of her mother's grave? Snopes - Did Mary Shelley Lose Her Virginity on Her Mother's Grave? History Extra - Mary Wollstonecraft: the firebrand feminist thinker with a rule-breaking life Wikipedia - Mary Shelley Wikipedia - Mary Wollstonecraft Wikipedia - William Godwin Wikipedia - Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Wikipedia - Free love Jane Lark - This week my scandalous woman is Mary Shelley the author of Frankenstein Wikipedia - Percy Bysshe Shelley Wikipedia - Claire Clairmont Wikipedia - Lord Byron Wikipedia - Ada Lovelace History Extra - Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: the birth of a gothic monster History Extra - "Mary never shook off the consequences of eloping with Shelley": Fiona Sampson on the life of Mary Shelley Amusing Planet - What is Galvanism, And How Did it Inspire Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein? Synapsis - Galvanism in 19th Century French Theater: Bringing Dead Words Back to Life The Ex-Classics Website - GEORGE FOSTER Anna Mazzola - Did Mary Shelley Keep Percy’s Heart? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.