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Mary Shelley was an English novelist, short story writer, and essayist who is best known for her Gothic novel, Frankenstein. She was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin on August 30, 1797, in London, England, to parents who were both prominent figures in the literary and political circles of the time. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a feminist philosopher and author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, while her father, William Godwin, was a political philosopher and novelist.

Unfortunately, Mary's mother died shortly after giving birth to her, and she was raised by her father and a stepmother who did not treat her kindly. Despite this difficult childhood, Mary was well-educated and spent much of her time reading and writing. She also developed a close relationship with her father's protégé, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who would later become her husband.

In 1814, when Mary was just 16 years old, she began a romantic relationship with Percy Shelley, who was already married. The couple eloped to Europe together in 1816, along with Mary's stepsister Claire Clairmont, and spent time in Switzerland with other notable literary figures of the time, including Lord Byron. It was during this trip that Mary first conceived of the idea for her most famous work, Frankenstein. The book was published anonymously in 1818 and became an instant sensation. Sadly,

Mary's personal life was marked by tragedy. She and Percy had several children, but only one survived to adulthood. In 1822, Percy drowned in a boating accident, leaving Mary a widow at the age of 24. She continued to write and publish throughout her life, but never achieved the same level of success as she did with Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley died on February 1, 1851, at the age of 53, from what is believed to have been a brain tumor. She is buried in the family vault in St. Peter's Churchyard in Bournemouth, England.

In addition to Frankenstein, Mary Shelley wrote several other novels, including The Last Man, Valperga, and Lodore. She also wrote numerous short stories and essays, and edited the posthumous works of her husband. Despite facing criticism during her lifetime for her unorthodox personal life, Mary Shelley is now widely recognized as one of the most important and influential writers of the Romantic era, and her legacy continues to inspire generations of readers and writers alike.