The History of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Let's talk about the history of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Three years before Frankenstein was published, Mary Shelley traveled through Europe. While in Germany, she passed near Frankenstein Castle, which may have influenced her novel. The castle was home to Johann Conrad Dippel, an alchemist who created a tar-like substance called Dippel’s Oil. Folklore about Dippel’s experiments possibly inspired Shelley, though she never mentioned this in her journals.

Shelley and her fiancé, Percy Bysshe Shelley, later traveled to Geneva, Switzerland. Percy was a radical poet and never famous in his lifetime. He and Mary began their relationship in secret due to his estranged wife, whom he left for Mary after her suicide.

In Geneva, they stayed with Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont, and John Polidori. Trapped indoors by rain, they held a horror writing contest. Mary wrote Frankenstein, and Polidori wrote The Vampyre, predating Dracula by decades. Shelley's novel is a frame story exploring themes like loneliness, obsession, and the nature of humanity. It’s also considered the first science fiction novel and has remained in print since 1818.

Upon release, some reviewers recognized a woman had written it, referencing its “feminine” qualities. Early stage adaptations followed, including Presumption (1823), The Man and The Monster (1826), and a musical burlesque in 1887.

Film adaptations began in 1910. Universal Studios’ 1931 version starring Boris Karloff became the most iconic. Though based on a 1927 play, not Shelley’s novel, it cemented Frankenstein in pop culture. Scenes were censored in some states, including a child’s drowning. Kansas initially tried to cut over half the film.

After the success of Dracula (1930), Universal produced Frankenstein. Bela Lugosi declined the role of the monster after failed makeup tests—a move often called a major career mistake. The film launched a franchise, including Bride of Frankenstein and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley, just 18 at the time, was underestimated but created a masterpiece that remains powerful, relevant, and foundational to both literature and film.