season 1
episode 3
Frankenstein
podcast episode
Listen to the Book Trivia Podcast’s Frankenstein Episode — full of audio-driven trivia, author insights, and creepy gothic intrigue.
episode summary
Is the monster really the monster? In this episode, we dissect Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein — a gothic classic born from a ghost story contest, fueled by grief, and stitched together with science, ambition, and dread. We explore what makes Victor such a tragic protagonist, what the Creature really wants, and how Shelley predicted a future filled with ethical dilemmas.
Expect grave robbing, lightning, Romantic poets, and trivia you won’t find in your high school notes.
Behind the Episode
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein at just 18 years old during a summer trapped indoors with Lord Byron and Percy Shelley. It began as a ghost story challenge — and became one of the first true science fiction novels.
In this episode, we dive into:
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The real-life science experiments that inspired the novel (Galvanism!)
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Shelley’s traumatic losses and how they shaped the book’s themes
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The novel’s multiple narrators and layered storytelling
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Misconceptions about “Frankenstein” — it’s the doctor, not the creature!
what you'll hear
🎧 Why Listen?
🎙️ Audio-first trivia woven into a chilling, spoiler-aware narrative
⚡ Real science and ethics explored through the lens of fiction
📚 Literary deep dives into structure, symbolism, and Shelley’s context
🧟 Fun facts about the myth, the monster, and the misunderstood genius