Mary Shelley wrote 'Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus' when she was just 18 years old during a rainy summer in Switzerland. The novel was born from a ghost story competition between Mary, her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron. When it was first published anonymously in 1818, many critics were harsh, and some assumed it was written by Percy Shelley because a woman writing such a macabre and scientific tale was unheard of at the time. Despite early criticism, it is now considered the first true work of science fiction. The story explores the ethical consequences of playing God and the nature of humanity through the lens of Victor Frankenstein and his nameless creation. Shelley’s ability to weave together Gothic horror and Enlightenment philosophy has ensured the novel’s place as a cornerstone of English literature and a foundational text for modern horror.