Book Riot - The Podcast The Seventeen Year-Old Who Invented Science Fiction
Oct 17, 2025
Explore the stormy summer of 1816 at Lake Geneva that sparked a ghost-story contest among literary giants. Learn how Mary Shelley’s struggle with writer's block led her to envision Frankenstein after discussions on galvanism. Discover the captivating dynamics between Mary, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others that shaped this creation. Delve into the novel's anonymous beginnings and its profound impact, establishing it as a cornerstone of modern science fiction. A tale of ambition, romance, and literary legacy unfolds!
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Birth Of Frankenstein At Lake Geneva
- Mary Godwin (later Mary Shelley) was a 17-year-old who conceived Frankenstein during a rainy June at Lake Geneva.
- She wrote the story after joining Percy Shelley and Lord Byron for a ghost-story contest while haunted by personal losses.
The Famous Lake Geneva Circle
- The five participants included Lord Byron, John Polidori, Percy Shelley, Mary Godwin, and Jane Clairmont playing roles in the creative contest.
- Jane's plan to lure Byron and Percy together sparked the gathering that produced both 'The Vampire' and 'Frankenstein'.
Jane Clairmont's Bold Scheme
- Jane Clairmont wrote flirtatious letters to Byron to secure a rendezvous and arranged a three-way meeting to connect Percy and Byron.
- Byron agreed to the scheme in characteristic fashion and the trip brought Mary into Percy Shelley's orbit.
