Graham Espie on Clubhouse

Bio

Fan of Curiosities...

In 1815 Mount Tambora erupted, with a volcanic explosivity index of 7, the largest recorded volcanic eruption since records began. This led to massive immediate climate change, cooling the planet, ravaging harvests and led to 1816 being known as the year of no summer. In that year, as was common for them Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, their friend Lord Byron and Lord Byron's physician, John Polidori headed to Geneva where they normally convalesced and enjoyed bathing in the temperate waters of lake Geneva in the Swiss summer sunshine. Due to the volcano, instead of bathing or boating most days they were forced to stay indoors due to the dust, darkness and cold cast up by the eruption. An apocalyptic sky above them and cold miasmic mists circling around their chalet, the group were inclined by the conditions to tell ghost stories. From this uncommon holiday The Modern Prometheus more commonly known as Frankenstein was borne of the mind of Mary Shelley. That kinda thing...