What's in a Name? Mary, Shelley, and Monsters

A Presentation by EWU Professor Chris Valeo

Scholar Chris Valeo discusses Mary Shelley and her famous novel 'Frankenstein.' Attendees can also peruse the National Library of Medicine exhibit, 'Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature.'

Mary Shelley was only 18 years old when she began writing Frankenstein in the summer of 1816. Who was this young writer, and where did she—and her stunningly impactful and enduring horror story—come from? Whether you’re new to the novel or it’s an old favorite, this lecture will provide a biographical overview and illuminate some key themes, exploring the names in and around the novel as a way to organize our thinking. Plus, there will be time for questions and discussion!

Valeo's lecture will give context to the exciting National Library of Medicine exhibit taking place at the Central Library from October 7th-November 16th, Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature. Attendees will be able to peruse the event before and following the presentation.

About the presenter: Christina A. Valeo is professor of English at Eastern Washington University, where she has taught courses in English literature, children’s literature, dystopian fiction, general education, and English education since 2003. She is an expert in British romantic literature, Frankenstein, nature poetry, and more, and her publications include material on Romantic writers, romance writers, and children’s literature. Her favorite pedagogical move is something she learned from a mentor long ago: “calling down the cosmos” in the classroom. Specifically, how does the literature we read help to reveal the wonders of our everyday lives? And, moreover, how can encountering “every day” literature—like romance novels, women’s literature, a blockbuster movie, a local production of a play—lead us on with greater expertise into the wonderful world of literature?

Auntie's Bookstore will be on hand to sell copies of Frankenstein and more...

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