1. Introduction

Posteguillo, a tenured professor of literature, applies a "teaching-through-storytelling" approach. His methodology is characterized by:

The titular essay explores how Cervantes influenced Mary Shelley, revealing that the modern "monster" was partly born from the spirit of the first modern novel.

The work spans centuries of literary history, focusing on several recurring themes:

In La noche en que Frankenstein leyó el Quijote , Santiago Posteguillo moves away from his renowned historical trilogies of Ancient Rome to explore the "secret life of books". Published in 2012, this collection of short essays—or "fleeting flashes" as the author calls them—reconstructs the hidden stories and enigmas behind universal literature. The central thesis of the work is that literature is a living, breathing entity, often shaped by chance, struggle, and deep-seated intertextuality.

While the author fills "historical gaps" with imagination to create dialogue and atmosphere, he maintains strict adherence to documented facts regarding publication dates, authorship, and biographical milestones.

He identifies a historical fact—such as Mary Shelley learning Spanish to read Don Quixote in its original language—and transfigures it into a narrative scene.

Each chapter is structured like a detective story, often withholding the name of the author or book until the final lines to engage the reader's curiosity. 3. Key Themes and Enigmas