By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
The woman behind the monster — and more — is in the spotlight for Amarillo Reads' winter programs.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus and The Last Man were chosen for the Amarillo Public Library's city-wide book club, said Stacy Yates, the library's public relations coordinator.
"Mary Shelley is fascinating as a writer and as a person," Yates said.
Born in 1797 to philosopher William Goodwin and feminist activist Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley became a prominent feminist in her own right, as well as a novelist and wife of fellow author Percy Bysshe Shelley. For years after her death in 1851, she was primarily known for Frankenstein and her association with Percy Shelley, but her reputation has grown with the republishing of several of her other works.
Frankenstein, published in 1818, is primarily known through its various adaptations, Yates said.
"Frankenstein and his monster have become so entrenched in our culture that everyone thinks they know a lot about them ... but only a small percentage of people have actually read the book," she said.
The Last Man, published in 1826, is a post-apocalyptic tale of a man living in the late 21st century, predating several popular sci-fi works of recent years.
"She was the forerunner to what has become a huge genre in literature and television and film," Yates said.
Upcoming programs include:
- A film series of several of the beast's best movies: Frankenstein (1931) on Jan. 19, Young Frankenstein (1974) on Jan. 26, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) on Feb. 2 and Victor Frankenstein (2015) on Feb. 9. Films will screen at 6 p.m. weekly in the downtown branch, 413 S.E. Fourth Ave.
- Downtown Lunchtime Book Club discussion of Frankenstein at 12:15 p.m. Jan. 26 at the downtown library
- Mary Shelley's World, a discussion of Shelley, her peers and their culture, at 10 a.m. Jan. 28 at the downtown library
- The Evolution of Science Fiction, a discussion of Shelley's pioneering work in the genre, at 10 a.m. Feb. 11 at the downtown library
- And a Downtown Lunchtime Book Club discussion of The Last Man at 12:15 p.m. Feb. 23 at the downtown library
For information, call 806-378-3051.
