Three Years of Winter: The (Scientific) Story Behind Shelley’s Frankenstein

“It was a dark and stormy night…” …hold on a minute, let’s ditch this cliched horror story! It was actually a hot and tropical April in 1815, prior to the terror that would engulf the inhabitants of Sumbawa, Indonesia.

In this gothic tale that weaves art and science, Monash University’s Dr James Driscoll will focus on the geological and climatic catastrophe that created the conditions for the writing of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, three years later and half a world away.

We’ll also explore the science of catastrophic volcanic eruptions and comment on the present volcanic hazards of Victoria.