1. The novel resulted from a competition between Mary, her future husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron and the writer John Polidori to see who could write the best horror story.
2. It is said that the plot came to Mary Shelley in a dream about a scientist who created life.
3. The first edition was published anonymously in 1818. Mary Shelley’s name was added in 1823.
4. Frankenstein’s monster is given no name in the book but referred to only as ‘creature’, ‘monster’, ‘fiend’, ‘wretch’, ‘vile insect’, ‘demon’, ‘being’, or ‘it’.
5. Mary Shelley said the name of Frankenstein came in her dream but in Germany there is a Castle Frankenstein, which she may have visited.
6. An alchemist named Conrad Dippel is believed to have experimented with human bodies at Castle Frankenstein in the early 18th century.
7. The earliest use of the term ‘Frankenstein food’ to refer to genetically modified food was in 1989.
8. ‘Frankenfood’ followed in 1992, followed by Frankenfruit, Frankenplants and Frankenscience.
9. Frankenstein has inspired more than 130 films, starting with the silent Frankenstein in 1910.
10. The music for California’s state anthem, I Love You California, was written by A.F. Frankenstein.