The Birth of Frankenstein-June 1816

     During the rainy summer of 1816 a young girl would give birth to a monster. The monster would be one of the most famous in all the world. That summer on the banks of Lake Geneva, Switzerland a group of young people would be somewhat stranded in a house do to the fierce weather. Lightning bolts fell from the sky like Lucifer being kicked out of heaven and it rained and rained. Poet Percy Shelley, his 19 year olf wife Mary, her sister Claire, met at the home of bisexual poet Lord Byron. Byron was the l9th Century's lterary answer to Mick Jagger as well as a number of our rock stars. It was a time of sex, drugs, and well not rock and roll. More like poetry. Byron lived with his doctor Poilidori as well as staff of servants. During the rainy stay on the banks of Lake Geneva the young group spent the time telling ghost stories as well as other tales we might call horror. On the night of June 16th, 1816 it was suggested that each person write their own tale of horror.That night when you Mary went to bed she dreamed of a young scientist  standing over the body stitched together from the parts of other corpses. The scientist  gives the body life.  The young scientist becomes so terrified of his creature he allows the it to go out into the world. Frankenstein was born. Needless when young Mary told her story she was hands down the winner. What is especially great about this tale was that these young individuals were the early 19th Century' s  equivalent of the swinging Sixties. Drug use and free love were practiced as well an interest in the occult. When I compare them to the rock stars of the Sixties I make no exaggeration. So, flamboyant were these individuals that outrageous movie director Ken Russell filmed their story in the 80's with the late Natasha Richardson as young Mary. He really didn't have to exaggerate much at all.  These people were way ahead of their time.But, I have to recommend the very best look at this story is also in the very best Frankenstein movie-the brilliant Bride Of Frankenstein which has never been surpassed.It is the best. And may you have your haunted summer.