Frankenstein: or `The Modern Prometheus': The 1818 TextBy the dim and yellow light of the moon, as it forced its way through the window-shutters, I beheld the wretch-the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened...' Frankenstein is the most celebrated horror story ever written. It tells the dreadful tale of Victor Frankenstein, a visionary young student of natural philosophy, who discovers the secret of life. In the grip of his obsession he constructs a being from dead body parts, and animates this creature. The results, for Victor and for his family, are catastrophic. Written when Mary Shelley was just eighteen, Frankenstein was inspired by the ghost stories and vogue for Gothic literature that fascinated the Romantic writers of her time. She transformed these supernatural elements an epic parable that warned against the threats to humanity posed by accelerating technological progress. Published for the 200th anniversary, this edition, based on the original 1818 text, explains in detail the turbulent intellectual context in which Shelley was writing, and also investigates how her novel has since become a byword for controversial practices in science and medicine, from manipulating ecosystems to vivisection and genetic modification. As an iconic study of power, creativity, and, ultimately, what it is to be human, Frankenstein continues to shape our thinking in profound ways to this day. |
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Page ix
... heart transplant in 1967 as a Frankenstein experiment: I began by reporting the patient looked much better—even though he thought he was a new Frankenstein. Amid the laughter, Bossie noted Dr. Frankenstein was the man who created the ...
... heart transplant in 1967 as a Frankenstein experiment: I began by reporting the patient looked much better—even though he thought he was a new Frankenstein. Amid the laughter, Bossie noted Dr. Frankenstein was the man who created the ...
Page xxvii
... heart would sink with fear at his approach; but shame kept me silent, and, with as many others as he could collect, we were placed handinhand round the nursery table to be electrified.61 When Percy went up to Oxford, his rooms were ...
... heart would sink with fear at his approach; but shame kept me silent, and, with as many others as he could collect, we were placed handinhand round the nursery table to be electrified.61 When Percy went up to Oxford, his rooms were ...
Page xxxii
... heart ever gazes on the depth Of thy deep mysteries. (ll. 18–23) But if these lines, written in 1815, can be read as a prototype for Victor, Shelley also unmasks the dark side of artistic creativity. Victor is neglectful of his friends ...
... heart ever gazes on the depth Of thy deep mysteries. (ll. 18–23) But if these lines, written in 1815, can be read as a prototype for Victor, Shelley also unmasks the dark side of artistic creativity. Victor is neglectful of his friends ...
Page xxxiii
... heart of gender issues in the novel. Gender is writ large in Frankenstein— a novel by a woman, daughter of a renowned feminist, and written while she was pregnant and raising a young baby.78 And yet the novel describes a man's attempt ...
... heart of gender issues in the novel. Gender is writ large in Frankenstein— a novel by a woman, daughter of a renowned feminist, and written while she was pregnant and raising a young baby.78 And yet the novel describes a man's attempt ...
Page xlii
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Contents
ix | |
Note on the Text | li |
Select Bibliography | lvi |
A Chronology of Mary Shelley | lxiii |
In three volumes | 1 |
Dedication | 3 |
Preface | 5 |
FRANKENSTEIN OR THE MODERN PROMETHEUS | 7 |
APPENDIX A AUTHORS INTRODUCTION TO THE STANDARD NOVELS EDITION 1831 | 173 |
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES | 178 |
APPENDIX C ON FRANKENSTEIN BY PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY | 199 |
EXPLANATORY NOTES | 201 |
Other editions - View all
Frankenstein: or `The Modern Prometheus': The 1818 Text Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Limited preview - 2018 |
Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus: The 1818 Text Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Limited preview - 2018 |
Frankenstein: Or The Modern Prometheus' - The 1818 Text Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
affection animal appeared arrived beautiful became become believe body called cause child Clerval companion concerning continued cottage cousin creature dark dead dear death delight described desire despair destroyed discovered edition Elizabeth endeavoured endured entered existence expressed eyes father fear feelings Felix felt followed Frankenstein Geneva Godwin hands happy heard heart History hope horror human idea imagination Italy Justine kind lake language leave letter light live London looked Lost manner Mary means mind miserable monster months mountains murderer nature nearly never night novel opened passed Percy Shelley philosophy pleasure poor possessed present Press Prometheus published reflected remained rest scene seemed Shelley Shelley’s sometimes soon spirit story suffered tale tears thing thought turned University Victor visited voice wish wonder wretch writing