Mary Shelley's journey to writing Frankenstein was a complex and fascinating one. She was born in 1797 to two prominent thinkers: her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a feminist writer and philosopher, while her father, William Godwin, was a political philosopher and novelist. Mary's mother died when she was just eleven days old, and she was raised by her father and stepmother.
At the age of 16, Mary met Percy Bysshe Shelley, a poet and philosopher who was already married. Despite this, the two fell in love and eloped to Europe together. They were joined by their friend Lord Byron in Switzerland in the spring of 1816, which is where the famous "ghost story challenge" took place.
But Mary's inspiration for Frankenstein came from more than just a friendly competition. She had experienced a great deal of loss in her life, including the death of her mother and several of her own children. She was also deeply interested in the scientific and philosophical debates of her time, particularly around the idea of creating life artificially.
All of these factors came together in the story of Frankenstein, which explores themes of creation, loss, and the dangers of playing God. Mary worked on the book for several years, revising and refining it until its publication in 1818. It was an instant success, both critically and commercially, and has remained a beloved classic of literature ever since.
Mary Shelley's life and work continue to inspire and intrigue readers and scholars today, as she was a woman ahead of her time in many ways. Her legacy as the creator of one of the most enduring and influential works of science fiction in history is a testament to her talent and vision as a writer.