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Making the monster : the science behind Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Harkup, Kathryn2018
Books, Manuscripts
The year 1818 saw the publication of one of the most influential science-fiction stories of all time. 'Frankenstein, or, Modern Prometheus' by Mary Shelley had a huge impact on gothic horror and science-fiction genres, and her creation has become part of our everyday culture, from cartoons to Hallowe'en costumes. Even the name 'Frankenstein' has become a by-word for evil scientists and dangerous experiments. How did a teenager with no formal education come up with the idea for an extraordinary novel such as Frankenstein? Clues are dotted throughout Georgian science and popular culture. The years before the book's publication saw huge advances in our understanding of the natural sciences. Sensational science demonstrations caught the imagination of the public, while the newspapers had lurid tales of resurrectionists. Making the Monster explores the scientific background of Shelley's book.
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