Franklin to Frankenstein

In the latter half of the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin was perhaps the most famous commoner on earth. His experiments with electricity brought him world-wide acclaim, and no less than Goethe hailed him as “a modern Prometheus.” In January 1818, Mary Shelley published Frankenstein, and in doing so she created a myth that has lasted 200 years and promises to last even longer. There are other connections between Franklin and Frankenstein beyond electricity and the spark of life, including climate issues, which Professor David Guston, from Arizona State University, will explore.