From: kuehnel@Physik.TU-Muenchen.DE (Hans Kuehnel)
Subject: SUMMARY: Frankenstein, the true story
Organization: Leibniz-Rechenzentrum, Muenchen (Germany)
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 11:41:44 GMT

Hello again,

here is the summary I promised. I had better read the Encyclopaedia Britannica
befor my original request here. Most of the information I wanted and even more
on 'gothic' literature, can be found there. Thank's for the many responses to:

 <boyajian@ruby.enet.dec.com> (Jerry Boyajian)
 loosemore-sandra@CS.YALE.EDU (Sandra Loosemore)
 maus@fid.morgan.com (Malcolm Austin)
 rspence@devnull.mpd.tandem.com (Russell Spence)
 Toby Koosman <TAKOOSMA@utkvx.utk.edu>
 smith@panther.adelphi.edu
 Jim Gillogly <jim@mycroft.rand.org>
 dcutter@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU (Dann Cutter)
 intruder@cats.UCSC.EDU

Hans K"uhnel (kuehnel@physik.tu-muenchen.de, +49-89-3209-3766)
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My original question:

> From: kuehnel@Physik.TU-Muenchen.DE
> Subject: Question: Frankenstein, the true story?
> 
> Hello everybody, 
> 
> please excuse my ingnorance, but: What is the name of the novel/tale
> behind the Frankenstein movies? And is there a true story behind this
> novel? Where did the real Frankenstein live, where did he die?
> Was he german? What was his profession?
> Any help is appreciated (mail it to kuehnel@physik.tu-muenchen.de) 
> I'll summarize answers to the list 

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The summary:
Basis for the films was the novel "Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus"
written in 1818 (in Geneva ?) by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851), 
wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.

It's not based on a true story but mostly imaginary, though inspired by the
Golem and similar legends. The Frankenstein in the story is a swiss student 
of the occult sciences. For more details, see the replies:
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> From boyajian@ruby.enet.dec.com Thu Aug 13 11:44:53 1992
> 
> The novel FRANKENSTEIN, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (wife of poet
> Percy Bysshe Shelley).
> 
> No true story.
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> From: loosemore-sandra@CS.YALE.EDU (Sandra Loosemore)
>
> The novel "Frankenstein" was written by Mary Shelley in the early
> 1800's.  One evening, she and her circle of friends (including her
> husband the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley) decided to entertain each other
> by composing ghost stories.  At that time, gothic horror stories were
> very, very popular (check out Horace Walpole and Ann Radcliffe for
> more examples of the genre).  Although it probably started out as a
> parody of well-known literary cliches, Mary eventually developed and
> expanded her story into the novel we all know.  I don't believe the
> plot was based on any real-life persons or events.
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> From: maus@fid.morgan.com (Malcolm Austin)
> 
> The novel which the movies was based on was called "Frankenstein: A
> Modern Prometheus" and written by Mary Shelley.  Apparently she wrote it
> after she, her husband (a famous poet), and other literati were at a
> resort in Switzerland, and decided to each write a horror story to read
> to the others.  Mary's story was a hit, and she reworked it into a
> novel.
> 
> The book differs considerably from the typical "Boris Karloff"-type
> movie.  The monster is articulate and normal-looking, and still alive
> at the end.
> 
> To the best of my limited knowledge, there was no historical basis for
> the character of Frankenstein, although Mary Shelley may have picked a
> local (Swiss) name for her protagonist.  I'm pretty sure Frankenstein
> is Swiss in the book.
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> From: rspence@devnull.mpd.tandem.com (Russell Spence)
> 
> The novel is called "Frankenstein" and was written by Mary Shelley
> in the 19th century.
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> From: Toby Koosman <TAKOOSMA@utkvx.utk.edu>
> 
> The novel _Frankenstein_ was written by Mary Shelley (wife of the poet
> Shelley).  It was supposed to have been inspired by the traditional Jewish
> legend of the "golem" (which I don't remember much about).  
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> From: smith@panther.adelphi.edu (Jim "There are no stupid questions" Smith)
> 
> Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly (1797-1851) wrote _Frankenstein or the Modern 
> Prometheus_ in 1818.  Check with your local Reference Librarian.  They 
> might refer you to _Mary Shelly & Frankenstein_ by Silliam Veeder.  This is 
> an interesting research project, along the lines of film adaptations of 
> literature.  Good luck.
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> From: Jim Gillogly <jim@mycroft.rand.org>
> 
> Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley.  She was the
> wife of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, so I'd guess it was published
> sometime around 1820.
> 
> I believe the story came out of discussions she and her husband had with
> a friend on a trip to the Continent -- another poet, but I forget which
> one.  There may have been a dream involved.
> 
> I'm not sure where precisely the novel was supposed to take place; I assume
> in one of the many states that Bismarck later glued together to make Germany.
> 
> Tim Powers wrote a book involving the Shelleys around this period called
> "The Stress of Her Regard".  It might make interesting background reading
> if you're interested in the atmosphere.
> 
> My favorite contribution to the Canon is "Young Frankenstein", a wonderful
> movie by Mel Brooks, which features a magnificently zany performance by
> Marty Feldman.
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> From: dcutter@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU (Dann Cutter)
> 
> The book behind all the movies is Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein". It is not
> a true story, as you will see if you read it. She was just a fairly niave
> kid who was married to Lord Robert. They went on a trip, and as a amusment,
> the group of them (4) had to make up stories. If you search long enough,
> you can find all four tales - and the mystery which goes along with them.
> Also, a movie "Gothic" is about the creation of these tales. dann
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> From intruder@cats.UCSC.EDU Fri Aug 14 11:46:29 1992
> 
> The novel was "Frankenstein", by Mary Shelley, wife of the poet Shelley.
> There is no true story behind the novel; she wrote it as an entry to a
> "spooky fiction" contest.
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