Shelley's Frankenstein (Cliffs Notes) [Paperback]

Samuel J. Umland (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes; Cliff Notes Paperback edition (March 5, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822004984
• ISBN-13: 978-0822004981
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #523,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Cliffs Notes on Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, August 22, 2003

By 

bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Shelley's Frankenstein (Cliffs Notes) (Paperback)

First there is the usual disclaimer that reminds us that the Notes are not a substitute for reading the book.
Included in this book:
. Life of the Author
. General Plot Summary
. List of Characters
. Critical Commentaries
. Mary Shelly and Romanticism
. The Gothic Story
. German Expressionism and American Horror Film
. Questions for Review
. Selected Bibliography
. Frankenstein Genealogy


Each of these sections gives an insight that can add to the reading enjoyment. However even the list of characters is a spoiler for those that want to be surprised by reading the story. The Notes break down the separate chapters and best of all the separate letters written as it can get confusing a letter telling of a person telling of a monster that is telling a story.

The notes take time to cover the movies (which many have seen first) and related books to what went into making of or exploiting the Frankenstein tales. One book recommended is "From Caligari to Hitler" ISBN: 0691025053 [A psychological history of the German film]. In the body of the notes there is a reference to most of the book is that the monster read but they seem to be left out of the bibliography; I assume that Shelly assumed you have read them before this story.

One real big plus is the "Frankenstein Genealogy" chart. With so many adopted and related relative it is hard to keep them apart before they are murdered.

The "Notes" is money well spent.