Google Doodle - Mary Shelley’s 213th birthday

The search engine’s multi-coloured logo has been replaced with an image of a darkened room, with a series of four ghostly portraits on the wall and a shadowy figure looming through an open door in place of the letters in Google’s name.

"Shelley, who was born in 1797, was among the pre-eminent British Gothic novelists. She began writing Frankenstein at the age of 18 and the novel was published in 1818. The title refers to a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a horrifying monster in the likeness of man.As well as being a classic Gothic novel,Frankenstein is indebted to the Romantic movement and is considered one of the earliest examples of science fiction."

Google Doodles have been produced for the birthdays of several noted authors, including JM Barrie and Hans Christian Anderson.

 Last year a series of Doodles showing UFOs and crop circles caused lengthy speculation before it was revealed that they were celebrating the birthday of HG Wells, the science fiction author.Born not far from our offices, in Bromley.

Artists and scientists have also been honoured, such as Isaac Einstein, Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci.

The first Google Doodle was of the Burning Man Festival of 1998.

http://www.google.com/logos/