“So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein—more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation.”

– Mary Shelley, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

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19th century writer and poet Mary Shelley is known best for having written a gothic horror story staple Frankenstein. The famed backstory to Frankenstein centers around a writing challenge presented one evening after reading ghost stories with her husband, Percy Shelley, and their small circle of creative friends Jane Clairmont, Lord Byron and John Polidori. The challenge was to create their own horror story, and Shelley’s dedication to creating the ultimate tale to inspire fear and thought has cemented her name—and the name of her creation—for all literary history.