You will all no doubt have noticed that every now and again on the Google homepage there’s a special Google Doodle, usually to mark a significant event, or commemorating a person. Recently for example there was a Google Doodle to mark the 71st anniversary of The Wizard of Oz movie, much loved around the world. Only yesterday Google paid tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina on the fifth anniversary, but instead of the usual Google Doodle the homepage was marked with a black ribbon.

Today the Google Doodle is dedicated to Mary Shelley, a famous British author and known for stories of a very different kind. Frankenstein is her best known novel and many people, even in today’s age but even more so in the past, have been surprised to find out that the classic story was written by a woman. The Google Doodle commemorates the 213th birthday of Mary Shelley and if you click on the eerie picture of a darkened room looking suitably spooky, you’ll find search results for Mary Shelley come up.

She was born in 1797 and actually started to write her best-known gothic book, Frankenstein, while she was only 18, according to Heidi Blake over on The Telegraph. Victor Frankenstein is the scientist at the center of the story who creates a man-like monster and various TV and film versions of the story have scared the wits out of many of us over the years.

She had an intriguing personal life, having an affair with the renowned British poet Shelley while he was married. At the age of only 17 she became pregnant by him but lost her baby shortly after the birth which was premature. When Shelley’s wife committed suicide they eventually married in 1816. The couple then had two more children, both of whom died, before they had another child, Percy. Her husband Shelley, then drowned in a boating incident and after a life full of tragedy, Mary Shelley herself eventually died at the age of only 53, from a brain tumor.

For more on this go to telegraph.co.uk. What do you think of the tragic life of Mary Shelley and her best-known work, Frankenstein. We’d be interested to know your thoughts so do send in your comments please.

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