Gothic horror and gothic romance were emerging genres when Pride and Prejudice was published. Though Frankensteinappeared five months after Austen’s death, it reflects the gothic fascination that threaded through Regency society.

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For us, the essence of Frankenstein lies not only in the novel itself, but in the mythology surrounding its creation. In our advert, an eighteen-year-old Mary is overshadowed by a 21st-century vision of her creature—one that nods, unmistakably, to Boris Karloff’s iconic portrayal. Strain your eyes, and beyond the creature you’ll find Rothwell’s 1840 portrait of Mary, watching quietly from the shadows.