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Frankenstein (The Original 1818 'Uncensored' Edition) Kindle Edition
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This carefully crafted ebook: "Frankenstein (The Uncensored 1818 Edition)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents.
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is the original 1818 'Uncensored' Edition of Frankenstein as first published anonymously in 1818. This original version is much more true to the spirit of the author's original intentions than the heavily revised 1831 edition, edited by Shelley, in part, because of pressure to make the story more conservative. Many scholars prefer the 1818 text to the more common 1831 edition.
Frankenstein is a novel written by Mary Shelley about a creature produced by an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was nineteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. Shelley had travelled in the region of Geneva, where much of the story takes place, and the topics of galvanism and other similar occult ideas were themes of conversation among her companions, particularly her future husband, Percy Shelley. The storyline emerged from a dream. Mary, Percy, Lord Byron, and John Polidori decided to have a competition to see who could write the best horror story. After thinking for weeks about what her possible storyline could be, Shelley dreamt about a scientist who created life and was horrified by what he had made. She then wrote Frankenstein.
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is the original 1818 'Uncensored' Edition of Frankenstein as first published anonymously in 1818. This original version is much more true to the spirit of the author's original intentions than the heavily revised 1831 edition, edited by Shelley, in part, because of pressure to make the story more conservative. Many scholars prefer the 1818 text to the more common 1831 edition.
Frankenstein is a novel written by Mary Shelley about a creature produced by an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was nineteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. Shelley had travelled in the region of Geneva, where much of the story takes place, and the topics of galvanism and other similar occult ideas were themes of conversation among her companions, particularly her future husband, Percy Shelley. The storyline emerged from a dream. Mary, Percy, Lord Byron, and John Polidori decided to have a competition to see who could write the best horror story. After thinking for weeks about what her possible storyline could be, Shelley dreamt about a scientist who created life and was horrified by what he had made. She then wrote Frankenstein.
- Publishere-artnow
- Publication dateJanuary 19, 2013
- LanguageEnglish
- File size1823 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Frankenstein, loved by many decades of readers and praised by such eminent literary critics as Harold Bloom, seems hardly to need a recommendation. If you haven't read it recently, though, you may not remember the sweeping force of the prose, the grotesque, surreal imagery, and the multilayered doppelgänger themes of Mary Shelley's masterpiece. As fantasy writer Jane Yolen writes of this (the reviewer's favorite) edition, "The strong black and whites of the main text [illustrations] are dark and brooding, with unremitting shadows and stark contrasts. But the central conversation with the monster--who owes nothing to the overused movie image … but is rather the novel's charnel-house composite--is where [Barry] Moser's illustrations show their greatest power ... The viewer can all but smell the powerful stench of the monster's breath as its words spill out across the page. Strong book-making for one of the world's strongest and most remarkable books." Includes an illuminating afterword by Joyce Carol Oates. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
About the Author
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797 - 1851)
Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus (1818). She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her father was the political philosopher William Godwin, and her mother was the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus (1818). She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her father was the political philosopher William Godwin, and her mother was the philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
VOLUME I
LETTER 1
To Mrs. Saville, England St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17--
You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday; and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare, and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.
I am already far north of London; and as I walk in the streets of Petersburgh, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight. Do you understand this feeling? This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which I am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes. Inspirited by this wind of promise, my day dreams become more fervent and vivid. I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight. There, Margaret, the sun is for ever visible, its broad disk just skirting the horizon, and diffusing a perpetual splendour. There--for with your leave, my sister, I will put some trust in preceding navigators--there snow and frost are banished; and, sailing over a calm sea, we may be wafted to a land surpassing in wonders and in beauty every region hitherto discovered on the habitable globe. Its productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes. What may not be expected in a country of eternal light? I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle; and may regulate a thousand celestial observations, that require only this voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever. I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man. These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fear of danger or death, and to induce me to commence this laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery up his native river. But, supposing all these conjectures to be false, you cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation, by discovering a passage near the pole to those countries, to reach which at present so many months are requisite; or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet, which, if at all possible, can only be effected by an undertaking such as mine.
These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my letter, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven; for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose--a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years. I have read with ardour the accounts of the various voyages which have been made in the prospect of arriving at the North Pacific Ocean through the seas which surround the pole. You may remember that a history of all the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the whole of our good uncle Thomas's library. My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading. These volumes were my study day and night, and my familiarity with them increased that regret which I had felt, as a child, on learning that my father's dying injunction had forbidden my uncle to allow me to embark in a seafaring life.
These visions faded when I perused, for the first time, those poets whose effusions, entranced my soul, and lifted it to heaven. I also became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of my own creation; I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated. You are well acquainted with my failure, and how heavily I bore the disappointment. But just at that time I inherited the fortune of my cousin, and my thoughts were turned into the channel of their earlier bent.
Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, even now, remember the hour from which I dedicated myself to this great enterprise. I commenced by inuring my body to hardship. I accompanied the whale-fishers on several expeditions to the North Sea; I voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep; I often worked harder than the common sailors during the day, and devoted my nights to the study of mathematics, the theory of medicine, and those branches of physical science from which a naval adventure might derive the greatest practical advantage. Twice I actually hired myself as an under-mate in a Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration. I must own I felt a little proud, when my captain offered me the second dignity in the vessel and intreated me to remain with the greatest earnestness so valuable did he consider my services.
And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose? My life might have been passed in ease and luxury; but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path. Oh, that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative! My courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed. I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, the emergencies of which will demand all my fortitude: I am required not only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my own, when theirs are failing.
This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia. They fly quickly over the snow in their sledges; the motion is pleasant, and, in my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English stage-coach. The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs--a dress which I have already adopted; for there is a great difference between walking the deck and remaining seated motionless for hours, when no exercise prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins. I have no ambition to lose my life on the post-road between St Petersburgh and Archangel.
I shall depart for the latter town in a fortnight or three weeks; and my intention is to hire a ship there, which can easily be done by paying the insurance for the owner, and to engage as many sailors as I think necessary among those who are accustomed to the whale-fishing. I do not intend to sail until the month of June; and when shall I return? Ah, dear sister, how can I answer this question? If I succeed, many, many months, perhaps years, will pass before you and I may meet. If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never.
Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret. Heaven shower down blessings on you, and save me, that I may again and again testify my gratitude for all your love and kindness.
Your affectionate brother, R. Walton --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
LETTER 1
To Mrs. Saville, England St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17--
You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday; and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare, and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.
I am already far north of London; and as I walk in the streets of Petersburgh, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight. Do you understand this feeling? This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which I am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes. Inspirited by this wind of promise, my day dreams become more fervent and vivid. I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight. There, Margaret, the sun is for ever visible, its broad disk just skirting the horizon, and diffusing a perpetual splendour. There--for with your leave, my sister, I will put some trust in preceding navigators--there snow and frost are banished; and, sailing over a calm sea, we may be wafted to a land surpassing in wonders and in beauty every region hitherto discovered on the habitable globe. Its productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes. What may not be expected in a country of eternal light? I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle; and may regulate a thousand celestial observations, that require only this voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever. I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man. These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fear of danger or death, and to induce me to commence this laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery up his native river. But, supposing all these conjectures to be false, you cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation, by discovering a passage near the pole to those countries, to reach which at present so many months are requisite; or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet, which, if at all possible, can only be effected by an undertaking such as mine.
These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my letter, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven; for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose--a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years. I have read with ardour the accounts of the various voyages which have been made in the prospect of arriving at the North Pacific Ocean through the seas which surround the pole. You may remember that a history of all the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the whole of our good uncle Thomas's library. My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading. These volumes were my study day and night, and my familiarity with them increased that regret which I had felt, as a child, on learning that my father's dying injunction had forbidden my uncle to allow me to embark in a seafaring life.
These visions faded when I perused, for the first time, those poets whose effusions, entranced my soul, and lifted it to heaven. I also became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of my own creation; I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated. You are well acquainted with my failure, and how heavily I bore the disappointment. But just at that time I inherited the fortune of my cousin, and my thoughts were turned into the channel of their earlier bent.
Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, even now, remember the hour from which I dedicated myself to this great enterprise. I commenced by inuring my body to hardship. I accompanied the whale-fishers on several expeditions to the North Sea; I voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep; I often worked harder than the common sailors during the day, and devoted my nights to the study of mathematics, the theory of medicine, and those branches of physical science from which a naval adventure might derive the greatest practical advantage. Twice I actually hired myself as an under-mate in a Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration. I must own I felt a little proud, when my captain offered me the second dignity in the vessel and intreated me to remain with the greatest earnestness so valuable did he consider my services.
And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose? My life might have been passed in ease and luxury; but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path. Oh, that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative! My courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed. I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, the emergencies of which will demand all my fortitude: I am required not only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my own, when theirs are failing.
This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia. They fly quickly over the snow in their sledges; the motion is pleasant, and, in my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English stage-coach. The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs--a dress which I have already adopted; for there is a great difference between walking the deck and remaining seated motionless for hours, when no exercise prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins. I have no ambition to lose my life on the post-road between St Petersburgh and Archangel.
I shall depart for the latter town in a fortnight or three weeks; and my intention is to hire a ship there, which can easily be done by paying the insurance for the owner, and to engage as many sailors as I think necessary among those who are accustomed to the whale-fishing. I do not intend to sail until the month of June; and when shall I return? Ah, dear sister, how can I answer this question? If I succeed, many, many months, perhaps years, will pass before you and I may meet. If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never.
Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret. Heaven shower down blessings on you, and save me, that I may again and again testify my gratitude for all your love and kindness.
Your affectionate brother, R. Walton --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From AudioFile
Simon Vance narrates this no-frills production of what is widely regarded as the first science-fiction novel ever published. FRANKENSTEIN may be one of the most oft-recorded novels of all time, but this version is certainly a fine one. In fact, it's hard to imagine one better. Simon Vance's regal English accent provides the perfect tone for this early-nineteenth-century moral exploration of mankind's use of knowledge. Mary Shelley wrote a book that may surprise those whose experience with the story is only from movies. Nearly two hundred years later, it is still thoughtful and completely worthwhile. The final CD includes what the publisher calls an "eBook," a convenient electronic print version (in PDF format) for those who want to follow along. S.D.D. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From Booklist
Gr. 8^-12. Part of the Whole Story series, this is the full text of Mary Shelley's classic gothic story, which was first published in 1818 and has been a wild success ever since. Philippe Munch's illustrations have none of the power of Barry Moser's unforgettable woodcuts that evoke the loneliness of the grotesque outsider (in the Pennyroyal edition published by the University of California Press in 1984). The design here is crowded, and the type is small. However, the many period prints and maps in color and in black and white, with long, detailed captions, do provide the historical setting for the story, its geography, customs, and ideas. Teens enthralled by pop versions of the myth as well as science fiction fans will be interested in going back to the full version of what has been called the first science fiction novel and learning about the circumstances under which it was written by a woman, just 18 years old, 170 years ago. Hazel Rochman --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From Library Journal
Though numerous editions of Twain's 1885 novel abound, this is the first to incorporate four previously unknown episodes discovered in 1990 when the first half of the original handwritten manuscript was unearthed. This edition also includes the original illustrations as well as photos of 29 original pages and notes by Twain scholar Victor Doyno. All this at a reasonable price makes Random's comprehensive edition of Huckleberry Finn essential for all libraries.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Considered the first great American novel, part of Finn's charm is the wisdom and sobering social criticism deftly lurking amongst the seemingly innocent observations of the uneducated Huck and the even-less-educated escaped slave, Jim. William Dufris's voice, unpretentious and disarming, like the book's main characters, seems the perfect armature on which to hang this literary strategy. Although he does an expert job with the entire cast, Dufris's delivery of Jim's dialogue is his crowning achievement. Out of context, Dufris's Jim might sound mocking and racist, due to his expert delivery of Twain's regional vernacular. Ignorance and intelligence, however, are not mutually exclusive, and taken as a whole, Jim's mind and heart come shining through, allowing the listener to reflect on their own assumptions. Tantor Media includes the entire text as a digital e-book on the final CD, a wise and thoughtful move in a market with swift and changing currents.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up- The name Frankenstein conjures a host of screen and cartoon images. This radio theatre presentation of Mary Shelley's horror story done by the St. Charles Players uses language compatible with the original text. The script is coupled with appropriate sound effects including some bloodcurdling screams. The combination should encourage student listeners to learn about Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation. There are contemporary issues in this classic novel's themes such as the moral implications of scientific discovery and how one person's zeal for success can affect others. Although the emotional portrayal of multiple deaths is sometimes melodramatic and the wooden speech of the monster is appropriately pathetic, overall the company moves briskly and skillfully through the story. This recording is best suited for use as a classroom aid in introducing or reviewing the book. Also, it might prove valuable to students preparing a radio theatre adaptation. The thin cardboard jacket is not sturdy enough for frequent circulation and cover art is minimal. Cassettes are clearly marked, and each side is announced. This presentation of Frankenstein is a useful but not essential purchase for school libraries.
Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Review
''A subtle and ironic prophecy that raises the question of who exactly is the real monster in this story.'' --Jesse Larsen, 500 Great Books by Women --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Review
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the masterpieces of nineteenth-century Gothicism. While stay-ing in the Swiss Alps in 1816 with her lover Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, Mary, then eighteen, began to concoct the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the monster he brings to life by electricity. Written in a time of great personal tragedy, it is a subversive and morbid story warning against the dehumanization of art and the corrupting influence of science. Packed with allusions and literary references, it is also one of the best thrillers ever written. Frankenstein; Or, the Modern Prometheus was an instant bestseller on publication in 1818. The prototype of the science fiction novel, it has spawned countless imitations and adaptations but retains its original power.
This Modern Library edition includes a new Introduction by Wendy Steiner, the chair of the English department at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Scandal of Pleasure.
Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in 1797 in London. She eloped to France with Shelley, whom she married in 1816. After Frankenstein, she wrote several novels, including Valperga and Falkner, and edited editions of the poetry of Shelley, who had died in 1822. Mary Shelley died in London in 1851.
From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
This Modern Library edition includes a new Introduction by Wendy Steiner, the chair of the English department at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Scandal of Pleasure.
Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in 1797 in London. She eloped to France with Shelley, whom she married in 1816. After Frankenstein, she wrote several novels, including Valperga and Falkner, and edited editions of the poetry of Shelley, who had died in 1822. Mary Shelley died in London in 1851.
From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Review
'In this new edition of Mary Shelley's classic work, Butler ... sets the work in its historical and intellectual context. She shows in details why the 1818 edition should be preferred to the third edition of 1831, on which most modern editions are based, revealing the 1818 version to be wittier, more clever, and harder-edged than the pious version which is more familiar.' - Reference and Research Book News 'The first appendix, detailing the differences between the editions, is useful for Shelley scholars, and Butler's work on scientific debate nicely counterpoints and complements other recent work, which has tended to concentrate on more specifically feminist, social and political issues.' - Emma McEvoy, Goldsmith's College, University of London --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Book Description
Frankenstein est un des mythes les plus féconds de la littérature moderne. Un fabuleux roman, un chef-d'œuvre romantique. Nouvelle présentation. À partir de 10 ans. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From the Publisher
"Hodder Headline Audiobooks" presents abridged readings of some of the finest in drama, classic literature, popular fiction, poetry, children's stories, and religious and inspirational works. Among Hodder Headline's outstanding cast of readers and performers are Kenneth Branagh, Juliet Stevenson, Simon Callow, Stephen Fry, and Dame Judi Dench. Each set of cassettes is beautifully packaged and shrink-wrapped. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From the Author
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a novel written in epistolary form, documenting a fictional correspondence between Captain Robert Walton and his siste, Margaret Walton Saville. Walton is failed writer and captain who sets out to explore the North Ple and expand his scientific kowledge in hopes of achieving fame. Durng the voyage, the cre spots a dog saled driven by a gigantic fiture.
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.Book Description
A collection of literature anthologies and reference books for Key Stage 3 onwards. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Review
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the masterpieces of nineteenth-century Gothicism. While stay-ing in the Swiss Alps in 1816 with her lover Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, Mary, then eighteen, began to concoct the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the monster he brings to life by electricity. Written in a time of great personal tragedy, it is a subversive and morbid story warning against the dehumanization of art and the corrupting influence of science. Packed with allusions and literary references, it is also one of the best thrillers ever written. Frankenstein; Or, the Modern Prometheus was an instant bestseller on publication in 1818. The prototype of the science fiction novel, it has spawned countless imitations and adaptations but retains its original power.
This Modern Library edition includes a new Introduction by Wendy Steiner, the chair of the English department at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Scandal of Pleasure.
Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in 1797 in London. She eloped to France with Shelley, whom she married in 1816. After Frankenstein, she wrote several novels, including Valperga and Falkner, and edited editions of the poetry of Shelley, who had died in 1822. Mary Shelley died in London in 1851. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
This Modern Library edition includes a new Introduction by Wendy Steiner, the chair of the English department at the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Scandal of Pleasure.
Mary Shelley was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in 1797 in London. She eloped to France with Shelley, whom she married in 1816. After Frankenstein, she wrote several novels, including Valperga and Falkner, and edited editions of the poetry of Shelley, who had died in 1822. Mary Shelley died in London in 1851. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From the Back Cover
At this challenge, Mary Shelley began work on the 'ghost story' that was to evolve into the most celebrated horror novel in literary history. Frankenstein was published the next year and become the rage of London. In the generations since, the story of Victor Frankenstein and the monster he created has been read by millions all over the world. It has inspired hundreds of imitations, but it has never been equaled for its masterful manipulation of the elements of horror and suspense. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From the Inside Flap
"I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion." A summer evening's ghost stories, lonely insomnia in a moonlit Alpine's room, and a runaway imagination--fired by philosophical discussions with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley about science, galvanism, and the origins of life--conspired to produce for Marry Shelley this haunting night specter. By morning, it had become the germ of her Romantic masterpiece, Frankenstein. Written in 1816 when she was only nineteen, Mary Shelley's novel of "The Modern Prometheus" chillingly dramatized the dangerous potential of life begotten upon a laboratory table. A frightening creation myth for our own time, Frankenstein remains one of the greatest horror stories ever written and is an undisputed classic of its kind.
From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B00FMWDARG
- Publisher : e-artnow (January 19, 2013)
- Publication date : January 19, 2013
- Language : English
- File size : 1823 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 138 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : B09KN8171K
- Best Sellers Rank: #30,409 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #231 in Gothic Fiction
- #696 in Horror (Kindle Store)
- #1,152 in Horror Literature & Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 2, 2023
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I like this version better than the revised version I first read. It just seems to flow more easily than the other one.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 21, 2023
I loved this story. The character of the monster was so touching. I was gripped with intrigue as I read his descriptions. A must read.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 19, 2022
Not at all what I might have expected. Took a little while to get used to the different form of writing. Found it to be an excellent read though. If you’ve only seen the movie as I had , you’ll find many differences. At the same time it’s easy to pick up on the similarities.
A truly great book. I highly recommend it.
A truly great book. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 9, 2022
When I started reading the book, I was not entirely sure what to expect. The fact that Hollywood gave us a rather different version of the story was unsurprising. Still, for a story I assumed was about science gone mad, there was very little science and the whole creation story really short and mundane. If anything, it was more about finish what you started or a plain horror/drama story about the folly of humans. The human drama and horror of Frankenstein and its creation were interesting and well written, the story as a whole though felt cluttered with side stories and needless details and characters explaining things that all involved in the conversation would be well aware off - an odd thing to be honest since the whole story is told by Frankenstein to somebody. All in all, it was a bit of struggle to get through the story, boring as some parts might have been to me.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 6, 2020
I like when letters are included in a novel, like part of a story. I liked that in Bram Stoker's Dracula and I like it here. There is something in adding letters, they allow us to establish another, deeper connection with characters of the book, and thus, to understand better their emotions and thoughts they have about a particular situation. The other reason I like letters is that I simply like the style in which they are written. It is so wonderful to read how people communicated in those days.
But, back to the story. The story itself is fascinating even more than the way it's written. I read it countless times and I am still amazed not so much with the idea of creating the Creature but with the relationship between two of them: its maker, Victor Frankenstein, and the poor, now unwanted, Creature.
Every time I read this book, I always end up feeling sorry for the poor Creature. Created by Man, rejected by Man - shows the true nature of Man. And that is tragic.
But, back to the story. The story itself is fascinating even more than the way it's written. I read it countless times and I am still amazed not so much with the idea of creating the Creature but with the relationship between two of them: its maker, Victor Frankenstein, and the poor, now unwanted, Creature.
Every time I read this book, I always end up feeling sorry for the poor Creature. Created by Man, rejected by Man - shows the true nature of Man. And that is tragic.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 12, 2017
Vic Frankenstein…“After days and nights of incredible labour and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I became myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.”
The discovery a reader will take from the read of Mary Shelly’s ‘classic’ version of the tale is twofold: 1) the dramatized versions of “Frankenstein” are wholly out of character with the book, and 2) the written version seems far more absurd than the dramatized versions. This is not the Gothic ‘story’ that requires ‘suspension of disbelief’ as one might apply to the read of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, or “Dracula”, or even the dreamlike structure and style of “Alice in Wonderland”. Shelly’s “Frankenstein” requires the naiveté of a child to stay engaged throughout the full 168 (very long) pages of this publication without developing blistering cynicism (apologies for mine!) But,
Can an illiterate ‘monster’ hide in a shed beside a cottage and teach himself French while peeping - for months - through a chink at the three residents in the cottage? Do the residents find gathered firewood and cleared path through the snow (for months!) without ever wondering; how… why…who…what? Does he leave no (huge) footprints in the snow back to this hovel? Could an 8’ tall ‘monster’ really sustain himself on ‘berries found in the nearby woods’ for over a year (winter berries?)…and always return, unobserved, to the - never inspected - shed beside the cottage? Or, how does the monster book passage across the English Channel and BACK without being noticed? Hmmm, if you are undecided - then plunge ahead with this read. “Frankenstein” (remember - that’s the scientist, not the monster) has established its place in great literature, and unfortunately its too late to shake that pedestal, but diminish your expectations following Vol. 1- chapter III [Peep…Ugh! and Run] and be prepared to abandon plausibility’s faintest hope following Vol 2 - chapter IV [The Too-Too Eloquent Brute].
‘The Monster’ speaks…”I found on the ground a leathern portmanteau, containing several articles of dress and some books. I eagerly seized the prize and returned with it to my hovel. Fortunately, the books were written in the language the elements of which I had acquired at the cottage; they consisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch's Lives, and the Sorrows of Werter. The possession of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I now continually studied and exercised my mind upon these histories, whilst my friends were employed in their ordinary occupations.” [my months in a ‘peeping shed’ reading Plutarch, Milton and von Goethe…]
Aw, come-on-man... [er, ma'am)!] Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” had more veracity and a good deal more charm. OK, 5-stars from the ‘literati’, but this member of the hoi polloi suggests those stars could be dialed back to a more feasible ★★☆☆☆.
The discovery a reader will take from the read of Mary Shelly’s ‘classic’ version of the tale is twofold: 1) the dramatized versions of “Frankenstein” are wholly out of character with the book, and 2) the written version seems far more absurd than the dramatized versions. This is not the Gothic ‘story’ that requires ‘suspension of disbelief’ as one might apply to the read of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, or “Dracula”, or even the dreamlike structure and style of “Alice in Wonderland”. Shelly’s “Frankenstein” requires the naiveté of a child to stay engaged throughout the full 168 (very long) pages of this publication without developing blistering cynicism (apologies for mine!) But,
Can an illiterate ‘monster’ hide in a shed beside a cottage and teach himself French while peeping - for months - through a chink at the three residents in the cottage? Do the residents find gathered firewood and cleared path through the snow (for months!) without ever wondering; how… why…who…what? Does he leave no (huge) footprints in the snow back to this hovel? Could an 8’ tall ‘monster’ really sustain himself on ‘berries found in the nearby woods’ for over a year (winter berries?)…and always return, unobserved, to the - never inspected - shed beside the cottage? Or, how does the monster book passage across the English Channel and BACK without being noticed? Hmmm, if you are undecided - then plunge ahead with this read. “Frankenstein” (remember - that’s the scientist, not the monster) has established its place in great literature, and unfortunately its too late to shake that pedestal, but diminish your expectations following Vol. 1- chapter III [Peep…Ugh! and Run] and be prepared to abandon plausibility’s faintest hope following Vol 2 - chapter IV [The Too-Too Eloquent Brute].
‘The Monster’ speaks…”I found on the ground a leathern portmanteau, containing several articles of dress and some books. I eagerly seized the prize and returned with it to my hovel. Fortunately, the books were written in the language the elements of which I had acquired at the cottage; they consisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch's Lives, and the Sorrows of Werter. The possession of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I now continually studied and exercised my mind upon these histories, whilst my friends were employed in their ordinary occupations.” [my months in a ‘peeping shed’ reading Plutarch, Milton and von Goethe…]
Aw, come-on-man... [er, ma'am)!] Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” had more veracity and a good deal more charm. OK, 5-stars from the ‘literati’, but this member of the hoi polloi suggests those stars could be dialed back to a more feasible ★★☆☆☆.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 12, 2021
Parts of the book are great. Parts are monotonous. Still, it is worth a read, if only to see how incredibly unfaithful ANY of the Movie versions are.
The theme of the book is important. Science must be engaged RESPONSIBLY, or evil can be unleashed.
The theme of the book is important. Science must be engaged RESPONSIBLY, or evil can be unleashed.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 16, 2020
I had wanted to read Frankenstein for many years as one of the great classics. It is much different from any of the movies that share it's title. It's writing is intense and gripping although often meandering in the details. I rate it only slightly under Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Top reviews from other countries
I Sawkins
3.0 out of 5 stars
A palatable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 15, 2017
A good book and light read, I spent a lovely few relaxed hours reading this book of which I've seen so many films on Frankenstein and his monster. I enjoyed it immensely.
Mr. T. Bewers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant read. Sometimes heavy going because of the language ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 27, 2015
Brilliant read.Sometimes heavy going because of the language used in the 1800's but never the less well written
Span
5.0 out of 5 stars
wow
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 26, 2014
Compelling read. Once you get used to the language. A Sad story with no loose ends. A worth while read.
MagicHelper23
2.0 out of 5 stars
Frankenstein did i enjoy?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 20, 2017
This book is VERY hard going, the language is just unforgivable. The monster speaks as if he went to Eton, and this aspect of the story is impossible to believe. Having said that, I did enjoy it.
Will I be reading it again? NO
Would I recommend it? NO
Will I be reading it again? NO
Would I recommend it? NO
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