The year 1818 saw the publication of one of the most influential
science-fiction stories of all time. Frankenstein: Or, Modern
Prometheus by Mary Shelley had a huge impact on Gothic horror and
science fiction genres. The name Frankenstein has become part of our
everyday language, often used in derogatory terms to describe scientists
who have overstepped a perceived moral line. But how did a 19-year-old
woman with no formal education come up with the idea for an
extraordinary novel such as Frankenstein?
The period 1790-1820 saw huge advances in our understanding of
electricity and physiology. Sensational science demonstrations caught
the imagination of the general public, and newspapers were full of tales
of murdered and resurrectionists. It is unlikely that Frankenstein would
have been successful in his attempts to create life back in 1818.
However, advances in medical science mean we have overcome many of the
stumbling blocks that would have thwarted his ambition. We can
resuscitate people using defibrillators, we can save lives using blood
transfusions, and we can prolong life through organ transplants - these
procedures are nowadays considered almost routine. Many of these modern
achievements are a direct result of 19th century scientists conducting
their gruesome experiments on the dead.
Making the Monster explores the science behind Shelley's book. From
tales of reanimated zombie kittens to electrical experiments on human
cadavers, Kathryn Harkup examines the science and scientists that
influenced Mary Shelley and inspired her most famous creation, Victor
Frankenstein.
While thankfully we are still far from being able to recreate Victor's
'creature', scientists have tried to create the building blocks of life,
and the dream of creating life forms from scratch is now tantalisingly
close.
