Santa Cruz Masonic Temple to Host Mary Shelley Tribute Event on November 27

The Masonic Temple in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set to host a special event on November 27th as part of the sixth annual "Haciendo Historia" (Making History) festival. The session will focus on the life and work of Mary Shelley, highlighting the lasting impact of her famous novel, Frankenstein.

Starting at 6:00 p.m., the event goes beyond a typical lecture to offer a multidisciplinary experience. Writer Espido Freire and Romanticism expert Lorenzo Luengo will explore the creative origins of Frankenstein, specifically focusing on the summer of 1816 at Villa Diodati. During this time, a period of stormy weather trapped a group of writers indoors, sparking a new wave of Gothic literature that challenged the boundaries of science and ethics.

The choice of the newly restored Masonic Temple as the venue is significant, as it allows the festival to showcase the building's architectural beauty alongside its programming. At 7:00 p.m., the Cero Culture Association will perform a theatrical piece designed to transport the audience back to the philosophical questions raised by Shelley and her contemporary, John Polidori—questions about ambition and the nature of life that remain relevant today.

The evening concludes at 8:10 p.m. with a presentation of Lorenzo Luengo’s book, El don Tenebroso, which examines the minds of Romantic-era poets. Admission is free until the venue reaches capacity, reflecting a joint effort by the Cabildo de Tenerife and the city councils of Santa Cruz and La Laguna to make culture more accessible to the public.

This year’s festival is particularly commemorative, marking four major historical milestones: the 175th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s death, the 200th anniversary of James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans (1826), the 100th anniversary of Buster Keaton’s film The General (1926), and the 90th anniversary of Gone with the Wind (1936). By celebrating these classics, the festival aims to connect historical literature with other art forms, encouraging audiences to reflect on how storytelling and cinema have evolved over the last two centuries.