Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Midi Lined Hardcover Journal, 144pg, 120GSM by Paperblanks (Embellished Manuscripts Collection)

English writer Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s Gothic horror novel Frankenstein tells of a scientist who creates a sentient being in a morality-pushing experiment. The story came to life while on a cross-European vacation with friends, touring ancient castles and discussing topics such as the occult. When Lord Byron suggested a competition to see who could write the best ghost story, Shelley drew upon these experiences, as well as her own feelings of grief and guilt over the loss of a child, to craft a story that tackled universal questions such as “What is my purpose” and “Why am I here.” Today, this handwritten draft of Frankenstein is held at Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford.