The Original Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus: The Original Two-Volume Novel of 1816-1817 from the Bodleian Library Manuscripts

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Book Overview

Working from the earliest surviving draft of Frankenstein, Charles E. Robinson presents two versions of the classic novel--as Mary Shelley originally wrote it and a subsequent version clearly indicating Percy Shelley's amendments and contributions.

For the first time we can hear Mary's sole voice, which is colloquial, fast-paced, and sounds more modern to a contemporary reader. We can also see for the first time the extent of Percy...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307474429
• ISBN13: 9780307474421
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Note: this is an abridged version.

Was disappointed to find this is an abridged, children's version of Frankenstein and not the full book. Nothing in the description indicates that.

Not what I'm looking for

Not sure what I got, but it does not match the cover. I also got the impression it was an abridged version adapted for teens. Do you have the full unabridged text? Because that's what I'm looking for.

Frankenstein, Signet Classics paperback 1965, 223 pages. (The one with the spooky trees)

Came from Texas to Connecticut in one piece with no damage in a plastic bag...thank god! It's a beautiful copy, I'm more than happy with the condition as it matches the description. In fact, it's better than description. That's how it's done! P.S. in the past when i recieved damaged books it occured on my doorstep from the mailman throwing my "papergoods" (as printed on the bag) like a newspaper. That terminology is costing money. I recommend leaving a kind note for your mailman to prevent damage.

Not in good condition

Full of annotations, even though I ordered one in good condition. The text itself is great and probably worth ordering a brand new copy.

a classic

cannot believe she was only 19 when she wrote. Literary genius.

Learn from my mistake

I ordered what I thought was the classic unabridged version. However, the copy I received was a children's abridged and illustrated edition. I contacted customer service about it and they have continued to say the error is not on their part, that I chose the ISBN that I did. Who knew I had to double check ISBN to make sure I was getting a "very good" edition of the classic Frankenstein that was what I searched for. They are finally issuing a refund but have continued to say that the issue is on my part and that technically they are under no obligation to refund me (even told me specifically to look at a specific section of the refund policy). No where in the listing did it say that the copy I paid for was a children's edition of Frankenstein. So learn from my mistake, double check the ISBN on the selection you pick to make sure that you are getting what you thought you were ordering.

I was hoping the cover would be what I ordered, other then that, I’m still happy with my book.

Good book.

Great story!

Read it back in school and it was so very interesting, read it again too.

Not Very Good Condition

The cover was massively bent. Site said it was in very good condition and it's not. :(

Lovely!

The story itself is incredible but I’ll talk about the quality of the book. I received a charming little hardcover with crisp intact pages and even an attached ribbon bookmark. Mind wasn't precisely what the picture showed but I believe it to be an upgrade.

Terrible condition! Looks okay when the book is shut.

My "very good" edition has highlighting and annotations every other line. False advertising and very disappointing. Would return it if it weren't for the opportunity cost.

Ordered this book but selected a different cover.

I choose this book title but with a different cover than the one I received.

Gothic at its best

Mary Shelley was the daughter of the famous feminist and author, Mary Wollstonecraft, who is best known for her work The Vindication of the Rights of Women. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a young university student, Victor Frankenstein, obsesses with wanting to know the secret to life. He studies chemistry and natural philosophy with the goal of being able to create a human out of spare body parts. After months of constant work in his laboratory, Frankenstein attains his goal and brings his creation to life. Frankenstein is immediately overwrought by fear and remorse at the sight of his creation, a "monster." The next morning, he decides to destroy his creation but finds that the monster has escaped. The monster, unlike other humans, has no social preparation or education; thus, it is unequipped to take care of itself either physically or emotionally. The monster lives in the forest like an animal without knowledge of "self" or understanding of its surroundings. The monster happens upon a hut inhabited by a poor family and is able to find shelter in a shed adjacent to the hut. For several months, the monster starts to gain knowledge of human life by observing the daily life of the hut's inhabitants through a crack in the wall. The monster's education of language and letters begins when he listens to one of them learning the French language. During this period, the monster also learns of human society and comes to the realization that he is grotesque and alone in the world. Armed with his newfound ability to read, he reads three books that he found in a leather satchel in the woods. Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther, Milton's Paradise Lost, and a volume of Plutarch's Lives. The monster, not knowing any better, read these books thinking them to be facts about human history. From Plutarch's works, he learns of humankind's virtues. However, it is Paradise Lost that has a most interesting effect on the monster's understanding of self. The monster at first identifies with Adam, "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." The monster, armed only with his limited education, thought that he would introduce himself to the cottagers and depend on their virtue and benevolence; traits he believed from his readings that all humans possessed. However, soon after his first encounter with the cottagers, he is beaten and chased off because his ugliness frightens people. The monster is overwrought by a feeling of perplexity by this reaction, since he thought he would gain their trust and love, which he observed them generously give to each other on so many occasions. He receives further confirmation of how his ugliness repels people when, sometime later, he saves a young girl from drowning and the girl's father shoots at him because he is frightful to look at. The monster quickly realizes that the books really lied to him. He found no benevolence or virtue among humans, even from his creator. At every turn in his l

Very thorough look at Mary Shelley's original work.

This Norton Critical Edition makes an excellent value in literature. If you are a student of literature, this volume will help you gain a thorough knowledge of Mary Shelley's original text (lots of context and critical essays included), as well as editions that followed. It contains her original preface (supposedly much influenced by Percy) as well as her 1830 preface. If you do not know, Mary's monster is not the monster one finds in the movies, nor is Dr. Frankenstein. Further, if you have not read an edition other than the first, you don't know about the incest issue that is in the first edition, but not later editions. As you will find in reviews below, this is not a flawless novel, but it is a must read for any well-read person. What is rarely discussed is the influence of John Locke, whose Essay Concerning Human Understanding Mary Shelley read closely just prior to writing the novel. The influence of his work on hers is substantial. Read in the light of Romanticism's reaction to the Enlightenment and Locke et al gives one a completely different perspective for understanding the work. I think you'll find Mary's philosophy appropriately and interestingly feminine, without being feminist; another surprise, considering her lineage. Definitely a good read!

praises for julian sands work

in my opinion julian sands did a superb job in making this audio tape, i admit i've been a great fan of his for a long time but he has a wonderful speaking voice and can really tell a story very very well. i highly recommend this audio tape to anyone who considers buying it.