While Thonon was only mentioned once within the novel, this location played a very pivotal role in how Victor Frankenstein turned out. In fact, it was the place where his abstract scientific ideas began as he went swimming by Thonon as a child. It was when he discovered a man named Cornelius Agrippa who had ideas about science that were far outdated by modern science that Victor’s ideas started. However, after asking his father about Agrippa, his father decided to only write the topic off and tell him that it was trash. Victor then explains that, if his father had taken the time to tell him why the ideas were garbage and outdated, it might’ve stopped him from conceiving such abstract ideas about his own scientific pursuits.
In terms of the British interest in Thonon, the interest was derived from the beautiful scenery as there’s a beautiful lake, and it’s close to the Alps. It was often called a “spa town,” and as a result, it was a much sought-after place to be (Thonon-Les-Bains | History, Geography, & Points of Interest | Britannica). This explains why Victor often went there as a kid to go swimming.

Dmnt44. Français : Thonon Par Le Ciel.Jpg. 12 Oct. 2020, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thonon_par_le_ciel.jpg. Own work.
Thonon-Les-Bains | History, Geography, & Points of Interest | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Thonon-les-Bains. Accessed 25 Sept. 2025.