Mary W. Shelley – Signature Collection

Mary Shelley was born in London on 30 August 1797, and is considered one of the most influential authors in literary history. She became famous primarily for her novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, which was published in 1818 and is now regarded as one of the first works of modern science fiction.

Mary Shelley was the daughter of women's rights activist Mary Wollstonecraft and political philosopher William Godwin. She grew up in an intellectual environment and developed a passion for literature and ideas at an early age. The idea for Frankenstein came to her during a stay at Lake Geneva, where she and her friends told each other horror stories. Her novel raises essential philosophical questions about responsibility, humanity and the limits of progress that are still relevant today.

As a female author in a male-dominated literary world, Mary Shelley prevailed with extraordinary creativity and perseverance. Her work continues to influence literature, film, and pop culture, making her a defining voice of science fiction.

(Image © Richard Rothwell, National Portrait Gallery London, Public Domain, Wikipedia.org)