Frankenstein or, the Modern Prometheus 1818

No cover — Mary Shelley: Frankenstein or, the Modern Prometheus 1818 (2020, Independently Published)

English language

Published Jan. 26, 2020 by Independently Published.

ISBN:: 979-8-6842-1631-2

(1 review)

This is the original edition which was published in 3 volumes. The cover photograph is of Volume 1. Published anonymously. By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. First edition. With half-titles. Title page with quote from Milton's Paradise Lost: "Did I request thee, maker, from my clay / To mould me man? Did I solicit thee / From darkness to promote me?" Printer statement from title page verso of volume 1; place of printing follows printer. Pagination: volume 1: xii, 181, [3] pages; volume 2: [4], 156 pages; volume 3: [4], 192, [4] pages. Publisher's advertisements on 2 unnumbered pages at end of volume 1 and 2 unnumbered pages at the end of volume 3.

48 editions

KnittedMushroom reviewed Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus (1818 Text) by Mary Shelley

A great classic, but a tough read overall

3 stars

Like most classics this book involves a bit of work to get through and really appreciate. It's stood the tests of time because you can easily compare Dr. Frankenstein to the modern day tech innovators that create for the sake of creation without really stopping to think on what their creation is going to bring to the world.

Frankenstein's chapters are long and drawn out, really building up how much you the reader just want to absolutely strangle him. He is self-pitying and seems to put most of his friends and family on a weirdly high pedestal while also not giving them a second thought when it's inconvenient? I think Shelley has actually done a fabulous job at writing a complete narcissist.

The chapters following Frankenstein's monsters completely sucked me in however, and I wish more of the book had been spent on detailing the monster's experiences in life that …

Like most classics this book involves a bit of work to get through and really appreciate. It's stood the tests of time because you can easily compare Dr. Frankenstein to the modern day tech innovators that create for the sake of creation without really stopping to think on what their creation is going to bring to the world.

Frankenstein's chapters are long and drawn out, really building up how much you the reader just want to absolutely strangle him. He is self-pitying and seems to put most of his friends and family on a weirdly high pedestal while also not giving them a second thought when it's inconvenient? I think Shelley has actually done a fabulous job at writing a complete narcissist.

The chapters following Frankenstein's monsters completely sucked me in however, and I wish more of the book had been spent on detailing the monster's experiences in life that ultimately drove him to murder. The monster's chapters begin to feel rushed, and his fall from grace seems a bit ill-supported unless you the reader fill in some blanks. But by the end you absolutely understand that these are two not-great protagonists battling it out in a somewhat weird rivalry/friendship?

I would have loved to see what Shelley could have expanded upon would she have made this original text longer and more detailed. But with this loose framework of a tale she let forth one of the most popular Halloween characters to this date.