Caroline Lea, a novelist known for her works like Love, Sex, and Frankenstein, dives deep into the life of Mary Shelley during the pivotal summer of 1816. She discusses how loss and isolation influenced Shelley's creativity and the birth of her Gothic masterpiece. Jeffrey Ternofsky, a French literature professor, shares his thoughts on choosing a 'last book,' reflecting on the intersections between reading, libraries, and personal connection to literature. The conversation weaves together themes of motherhood, idealism, and the shadows of literary history.
