Customer Reviews

Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus

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Berni Wrightson, in what is probably the crowning achievement of his career, masterfully illustrates this romantic classic in superb full-page pen and ink. Wrightson's conception of the monster is both horrifying and frighteningly sympathetic, and he demonstrates both his talent for capturing dynamism and motion as well as his grasp of the emotional conflicts of the story. A note to literary students, however: this is an abridged version of Mary Shelley's work, albeit an effective one. A must-read for any well-rounded literary, and a must-see for any student or master of art. Also see _Berni Wrightson: A Look Back_ for a retrospective of Wrightson's work and the lost pages from _Frankenstein_.

No one will doubt that Mary Shelly's Frankenstein is a classic of horror fiction. It shows the horrific result when a man tries to play God. But this version of Frankenstein features the chilling (but amazing) illustrations by Bernie Wrightson. He truly brings to life the self-loathing creation of Dr. Frankenstein, with his gory appearance and enraged expressions. He expertly renders the landscapes of France and Germany, where the book takes place. These illustrations compliment perfectly Shelly's tale of the struggle between the man and his monster. A must for any Illustration student or horror fan. Definitely buy a copy. Buy two, in case you lose one.

I have the hardcover edition of this book. The oversize illustrations by Wrightson are amazing. When friends visit and thumb through it, they are always taken aback by the strength and subtlety of Wrightson's pen. One drawing is a two page spread of Dr. Frankenstein's lab, a 10" x 20" pen and ink drawing crammed with magnificent detail.

The text is in large type, but laid out very well, so a great way to gets older kids into this seminal novel.