Frankenreads Q&A: Cardiff University and Keats House
We continue our Frankenreads Q&A series today by presenting an interview with Dr Anna Mercer, speaker at Frankenreads at Cardiff University, and co-organiser of the Keats House event. The 'Frankenfest' at Cardiff University will include a screening of the 2017 film, Mary Shelley, followed by information on the Shelleys' manuscripts, and celebrations at Keats House will include readings from the 1818 and 1831 editions of Frankenstein as well as poetry by Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
What made you want to participate in Frankenreads, and what do you think is the relevance of Mary Shelley’s iconic novel today?Mary Shelley’s novel is ubiquitous in the media. This week, for example, saw the headline: ‘Invasion of the Frankenbees’. Mary Shelley's idea has infected popular culture in such an undeniable way. The novel’s meditations on love, science, learning, prejudice and retribution have been pored over (not least on this very blog in various Q&As like this one); the novel is as captivating to its audiences today as it has ever been.
And that is why I wanted to participate in Frankenreads: because 2018 has truly been a ‘Frankenyear’. The bicentenary has encouraged so many people to return to the original novel that Mary Shelley presented to the world in 1818. In my engagement with the Frankenstein revival, I have had the opportunity to showcase my research into the collaborative literary relationship of Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley. I believe it’s crucial that we view the Shelleys’ shared work on the original Frankenstein manuscript as an act of collaboration: a reoccurring, multifaceted and reciprocal exchange of ideas that also influenced Percy Shelley’s compositions. I will do this at the upcoming events by inviting the audience to peruse the original manuscript on the Shelley-Godwin Archive and by explaining a bit more about how the Shelleys' creative relationship evolved over time.
What are you doing for Frankenreads, who is involved, and what makes your Frankenreads event unique?I am taking park in two Frankenreads events. The first is at Cardiff University on 28 October - part of their ‘Frankenfest’. Prof Anthony Mandal and I will present a film screening of the 2017 film Mary Shelley, which I will follow-up with a short talk/review of the film, including information about the Shelleys’ manuscripts. We'll then open the room up to discussion. Cardiff present their ‘Frankenreads’ celebratory reading of the novel on 31 October, and their festival includes a seminar and other academic talks in the build up to Halloween.
On 31 October I will be at Keats House presenting a drop-in workshop on the Frankenstein manuscripts as part of our ‘Late Night Keats: My Hideous Progeny’ event. The museum will be open from 6.30-9pm with several activities, including a Gothic tour of the building, a pop-up bar with spooky cocktails, and of course our very own contribution to the Frankenreads concept: a reading of excerpts from the novel. The script, presented by the Keats House Poetry Ambassadors, will feature the most famous moments from the 1818 text, and excerpts from Mary Shelley’s introduction to the 1831 edition, as well as a bit of Percy Shelley and Byron’s 1816 poetry too. Elsewhere in the house the Old Operating Theatre will be carrying out a mock nineteenth century amputation (a nod to the medical Keats on his 223rd birthday!), and at my workshop visitors will also be able to have a go with pen and ink quills. They can quiz me on my research into the original Shelley manuscripts, too.
Check out the official Frankenreads event page for celebrations near you, and remember to follow the K-SAA on Facebook and Twitter for all things Frankenstein and #Romantics200.