Today we’re diving into the wildly dramatic life of Mary Shelley, the mother of science fiction and the ultimate OG Goth Girl. From radical feminist and revolutionary parents, to graveyard hookups, to the stormy summer that gave us Frankenstein, Mary’s life was just as haunting as her work.

In this episode, we unpack how Mary Shelley’s grief, genius, and chaotic social circle shaped one of the most influential novels of all time and how she remained quietly radical long after the world tried to tame her.

In this episode, we cover:

Mary Shelley’s radical upbringing and goth childhood
Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and the messiest friend group imaginable
The true origins of Frankenstein
Grief, motherhood, and loss
Mary Shelley’s underrated radical legacy

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings

03:26 Mary Shelley's Early Life and Family

04:37 Mary Wollstonecraft & William Godwin: Radical Parents

16:53 Teenage Years in Scotland (Emotional Glow-Up)

19:43 Percy Shelley has entered the chat

24:09 The Graveyard Scene & Running Away

31:53 Return to England and Family Rejection

36:58 The Birth of Frankenstein

47:26 Loss, Grief & Moving to Italy

54:14 Mary Shelley's Later Life and Legacy

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