With a new Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein now captivating audiences around the world, a special event at The Hive will look at the life of the woman behind one of the most famous horror stories ever written.
Award-winning biographer Professor Fiona Sampson will delve into the life and legacy of Mary Shelley, whose imagination created one of the most enduring stories of all time, at a free session on November 19 (6.30pm) as part of a series of events organised by the University of Worcester’s Creative Writing team.
Professor Sampson will join Worcester’s Lecturer in Creative Writing, Dr Ruth Stacey, to discuss her acclaimed biography of Mary Shelley—exploring the author’s childhood, early talent, and the experiences that shaped her iconic novel.
The session, titled Writing Biography: In Search of Mary Shelley and The Invention of George Sand, also examines the craft of biography and the research behind it. Professor Sampson will introduce her latest book, Becoming George: The Invention of George Sand, and share a short reading.
Professor Sampson is an award-winning writer and biographer, a former Professor of Poetry at Roehampton and Senior Research Fellow at Oxford.
She said: “I hope people will come away with a greater understanding of Mary Shelley and the extraordinary, and at times tragic, life she led, and how this informed the novel she would go on to write.”
“Frankenstein is a classic that has been dramatised many times,” she added. “It’s good to step back to see the woman who stands behind it. I also hope through my many years in biographical writing to provide some useful insights for anyone looking to take the literary biographer route themselves.”
Dr Ruth Stacey said: “Frankenstein and his monster are a perpetual fascination, as shown by the excitement around Guillermo del Toro’s new interpretation on Netflix. It’s great to discuss the woman behind such a significant novel that still grips the imagination decades later.
She added: “Mary Shelley was an exceptional, imaginative writer who finished the book at just 19. Fiona’s biography brings her back into the light, often obscured by the fame of her monster and his creator, her peers and her parents. I’m also keen to explore biography as an art form and how it differs from other projects.”
The event is open to all but places should be booked by visiting Worcestershire County Council website: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/events/creative-writing-reading-series-fiona-sampson