Mary Shelley

August 30, 1797 - February 1, 1851

Mary Shelley was an English novelist, short story writer, essayist, biographer, travel writer, editor, and the female pioneer of Science Fiction. She is best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus and for editing and promoting her husband's work.

Even though she had little formal education, Shelley's father provided her with an advanced education, one that was extremely rare for woman at that time. She enjoyed writing from an early age and wrote and traveled throughout her life.

Shelly's inspiration for Frankenstein occurred during a summer trip to Geneva. It was very rainy and dreary, and Shelly and her friends passed the time by discussing topics such as animating dead matter. Lord Byron, one of the other guests, suggested that everyone write a supernatural story and Shelley dreamed up Frankenstein. While she only meant it to be a short story, it became her first novel.

Shelly experienced the loss of her children and her husband and often suffered from physical depression and illness. Despite this, she continued to write novels and edit her late husband's writing. Her novels have piqued the interest of many scholars due to her tendency to comment on gender relations, question theological and political institutions, and include biographical aspects of her own life. It should be no surprise that she is considered to be one of the Trailblazers of Science Fiction.