MARY AND THE BIRTH OF FRANKENSTEIN

Ell Potter offers an outstanding narration of author Eekhout's speculative fiction. What might have inspired Mary Shelley's now classic horror story? Mary; her soon-to-be husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelly; and her stepsister, Claire, spend the summer of 1816 in Switzerland with Lord Byron and his personal physician, Dr. John Polidori. One cold, rainy night, Byron proposes a contest to see who can write the best ghost story. Potter's sensuous, breathy voice is perfect for this strange, moody piece. She's especially compelling as Mary looks back on that time of passion and young love, of myths and fantastic fables. Whether Mary grieves her lost child or recounts erotic intimacies, Potter allows for Mary's fragility while still giving her unquestionable strength. Dreamy, dark, and spellbinding listening. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2023]