Inside the Midnight Mind of . . .
Frankenstein’s world

The mysterious Midnight Library transforms whenever the old broken clock chimes, and goes “inside the mind of a book or writer.” This time the Pages are transported to the world of Gothic mysteries: moody stories about monsters and haunted mansions, mad monks, creepy castles, and treacherous storms.

Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley and her husband, the poet Percy Shelley, were spending a summer with their wild and unpredictable friend, Lord Byron. One night, Byron suggested they each make up a ghost story to share during their evenings together. Mary was not a writer like Percy was, and she panicked about coming up with a story. Then a nightmare inspired her. The result was the world’s most famous monster tale—Frankenstein.

Ann Radcliffe

Many experts consider Radcliffe the “mother” of the Gothic novel. Her most famous book, The Mysteries of Udolpho, has a scheming villain, crumbling castles, and a beautiful heroine facing supernatural danger. The term “Gothic” comes from Gothic architecture, which was the style of many castles and cathedrals where the stories take place.

Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte and her famous sisters, Anne and Emily, were popular writers of Gothic tales. Charlotte’s Jane Eyre tells the story of an orphan girl who grows up to become a governess at Thornfield Hall. Thornfield is a gloomy mansion haunted by ghostly laughter and mysterious fires. Jane Eyre has been made into dozens of movies plays and TV shows.

Lightning Strikes

Lightning and storms are a part of many Gothic adventures. When scientists discovered electricity in the 1700s, they didn’t think it was the same thing as lightning. Ben Franklin did. He also proposed that metal objects could attract lightning. In June 1752, Ben Franklin did his famous experiment with a kite during a thunderstorm. He was successful at electrifying a key. He later invented the lightning rod.