From Mount Tambora To Frankenstein

I picked up the latest issue of History Magazine recently and came across an article titled, "1816: The Year Without A Summer." It was an interesting read and the piece explored how the massive eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia (then known as the Dutch East Indies) in 1815 had a devastating effect on global weather patterns. The explosion was heard as far away as 1200 miles while the volcanic gases reached 24 miles into the stratosphere. At its peak Mount Tambora stood 13 000 feet. By the time the volcanic eruption was done it was a mere 9 350 feet.

That's some poof.

By 1817 the weather had begun to normalize but there remained a lingering effect. One episode took place in Lake Geneva (that's in Switzerland, Jen) in 1816. A party of English travelers were staying with Lord Byron but the rain was rampant enough to force everyone indoors and read ghost stories. At one point, the good lord suggested everyone actually write a ghost story.

And write they did.

One gal went by the name of Mary Godwin. She went on to become Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and her creative mind gave the world Frankenstein.

Who says great gifts don't come from nature?