Children’s Librarian Judy Zimmer recommends A World without Summer by Nicholas Day.
I was drawn to this book by the title: A world without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, a Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out. How could I not be curious?
I didn’t read the summary before delving right in with the reading and was delightfully surprised when the book connected the largest volcanic eruption in human history with the birth of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein.
Day skillfully weaves history, science, and literature into a gripping narrative tale.
Imagine a time in history when the sun was obscured by clouds and rain for months. It was a summer when Percy and Mary Shelly were spending their summer on Lake Geneva with Lord Byron. The rain was torrential and the lightning storms relentless. To pass the time, Percy proposes a contest to see who can write the best ghost story. Mary had read about scientific experiments using electricity to reanimate dead tissue. She had a waking dream that led to the plot of the novel.
Beyond its historical intrigue, I was fascinated with the way the author connected the environmental upheaval with the cultural and social and literary shifts of this time.
If you’re reading Frankenstein this winter, this book is the perfect companion.
