Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)

Mary Shelley
Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus

We all know the story right? But what you see in the films and the quick summary "man makes man cobbled together with other bits of men and brings to life with electricity whilst laughing manically then monster goes on rampage scaring young women resulting in a mob with flaming torches running him out of village". Not at all. Indeed the bringing to life bit is in a way disappointingly brief and with no detail. I guess so we don't copy and make our own "monster". By the way, the "creature" is never named - Frankenstein is the creator. It's a harrowing tale with stories within stories and this edition has a long introduction that gives various angles on the book. Whatever you want to read into it the story is excellently written and although, as with all horror stories, there are moments of "why on earth would you do that". As in all good novels the characters are complex and their thoughts and actions make you think about your own. As well as a comprehensive introduction this edition also has two other short pieces that were written at the same time as this was conceived one evening by Shelley, Shelley, Byron and his doctor.