MARY SHELLEY, born in 1797, was a visionary British author whose groundbreaking novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus forever changed the landscape of literature. Written when Shelley was just eighteen, Frankenstein explored profound themes of creation, ambition, and the moral responsibilities that come with scientific discovery. Inspired by a stormy summer in Switzerland, during which she and her companions, including poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron, challenged each other to write ghost stories, Shelley created a tale that would not only define the Gothic genre but also spark centuries of reflection on humanity's drive to push the boundaries of knowledge. Her background, as the daughter of pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and political philosopher William Godwin, shaped her progressive and philosophical outlook, allowing her to tackle complex issues in her work with remarkable insight.