Each winter, we read a story together. The 2026 Winter Read is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
For more than 200 years, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus has captured imaginations. The story of a young scientist who infuses life into a new being, flees in terror, and sets in motion a series of deadly events, the novel has spawned countless works across film and literature. Join us as we delve into the extraordinary life of Mary Shelley, her creation, and its enduring appeal.
The 2026 Winter Read will focus on Shelley’s original 1818 text. The Penguin Classics edition, with an introduction from National Book Critics Circle award-winner Charlotte Gordon, preserves the hard-hitting and politically-charged aspects of Shelley’s original writing, as well as her unflinching wit and strong voice. This edition also emphasizes Shelley’s relationship with her mother—trailblazing feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who penned A Vindication of the Rights of Woman—and demonstrates her commitment to carrying forward her mother’s ideals, placing her in the context of a feminist legacy rather than the sole female in the company of male poets, including Percy Shelley and Lord Byron.
More here about the 2026 Winter Read, including speakers, book discussions, and film screenings.
