Background on the Novel
Author: Mary Shelley
Born: August 30, 1797
Mary was born in Somers Town, London. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a feminist and tried to get more rights for women, she was a moral and political theorist. Mary's mother died when she was only 11 days old. Shelley and her siblings were raised solely by her father, William Godwin. She was influenced to start writing at a young age by her father. She first told the story of Frankenstein when she was competing in a horror story telling competition with her friends. The idea of Frankenstein came to Mary Shelley in a dream. After Mary told the story she was influenced by her husband to write a book about it. Shelley wrote the book when she was 18, and it was published when she was 19. Mary's writing continued into her later years, but none of her other writings had the success that Frankenstein had. Shelley died on February 1,1851.
Time period: Early 1800's
Electricity had just been invented. Most people in society had just heard of it, not knowing the capabilities it had. This was good for the popularity of the book when it was first published, because people truly believed that it was a technology capable of giving back life. Also with idea of feminism on the rise in the late 1700's and early 1800's, having a woman author was another asset to the books popularity.
Born: August 30, 1797
Mary was born in Somers Town, London. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a feminist and tried to get more rights for women, she was a moral and political theorist. Mary's mother died when she was only 11 days old. Shelley and her siblings were raised solely by her father, William Godwin. She was influenced to start writing at a young age by her father. She first told the story of Frankenstein when she was competing in a horror story telling competition with her friends. The idea of Frankenstein came to Mary Shelley in a dream. After Mary told the story she was influenced by her husband to write a book about it. Shelley wrote the book when she was 18, and it was published when she was 19. Mary's writing continued into her later years, but none of her other writings had the success that Frankenstein had. Shelley died on February 1,1851.
Time period: Early 1800's
Electricity had just been invented. Most people in society had just heard of it, not knowing the capabilities it had. This was good for the popularity of the book when it was first published, because people truly believed that it was a technology capable of giving back life. Also with idea of feminism on the rise in the late 1700's and early 1800's, having a woman author was another asset to the books popularity.