Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of "Frankenstein"

It’s the 200th anniversary of the publication of “Frankenstein” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, and there is renewed interest in the book with celebrations and readings scheduled around the world in October! Everyone is invited to come to the regular meeting of Bernardsville Library’s book group, Saturday Samplers, on Saturday, October 6 at 3:30 pm, when we’ll hear a talk by Professor Gillian Hettinger and discuss "Frankenstein" in depth.

At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, “Frankenstein” tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein who’s obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life, and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.

Author Mary Shelley was seventeen when she began her relationship with the married and aristocratic poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Fleeing to France, the couple traveled across Europe and, in 1816, stayed in a castle on Lake Geneva with a group that included Lord Byron. It was Byron who suggested one rainy night that they all try their hand at writing horror stories. Out of this came “Frankenstein, the Gothic tale about a monstrous progeny.

Dr. Gillian Hettinger will provide background on Mary Shelley, her circle of famous friends, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron–all key figures of the Romantic era-and their scandalous lives. Dr. Hettinger holds a doctorate in British literature from Drew University. Currently teaching at William Paterson University, she has been awarded multiple fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked literary and narrative works. This program is free; advance sign-up is requested for this special meeting. Please note start time. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.