Frankenstein's Science Experimentation and Discovery in Romantic Culture, 1780-1830

'This ably edited volume explores the myriad scientific contexts in which Mary Shelley's Frankenstein came into being " her childhood reading; contemporary geographical explorations, especially to the Arctic Poles; debates concerning human and animal vivisection, monstrous births, spiritualism, electricity, evolution, and the mania for collecting specimens of natural history. These essays deeply enrich our understanding of Shelley's novel, its impact on later historical readers, and its continuing relevance to current scientific controversies.' Anne K. Mellor, UCLA, USA 'This scholarly yet accessible volume is a valuable resource, not just for students of Mary Shelley but also for all those interested in the history of science in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.' Times Higher Education 'There are some remarkable essays here, notably on the expanding boundaries of nineteenth-century science and social reform.' Enlightenment and Dissent