Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus

Library of English literature -- LEL 21527.

by Mary Shelley

No cover — Mary Shelley: Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus (1818, Printed for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mayor & Jones)

Microform

English language

Published Feb. 24, 1818 by Printed for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mayor & Jones.

OCLC Number:: 18371982

View on OpenLibrary

(268 reviews)

The original story of science gone berserk: one that changed how far our dreams can stretch. Imagine a human created out of corpses. A monster assembled by a scientist from parts of dead bodies develops a mind of his own as he learns to loathe himself and hate his creator. Who is the monster: this tortured beast, or the man who made him?--Goodreads, LibraryThing.

A monster has been loosed upon the world--super-humanly strong, inhumanly vicious. Its inventor knows he must find and destroy it--halt its career of terror and murder! But as Victor Frankenstein, the mad scientist, pursues his monster through the night, he hears the echo of its fearsome voice: "You are my creator, but I am your master. Obey!--WorldCat.

"Mary Shelley's timeless Gothic novel presents the epic battle between man and monster at its greatest literary pitch. In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein …

"Mary Shelley's timeless Gothic novel presents the epic battle between man and monster at its greatest literary pitch. In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor to the very brink of madness. How he tries to destroy his creation, as it destroys everything Victor loves, is a powerful story of love, friendship, scientific hubris, and horror.

127 editions

Anthony reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein

4 stars

Cette lecture me laisse un sentiment mitigé. Je suis quelque peu déçu. Je n'ai rien à reprocher à l'écriture et à la forme narrative (épistolaire avec des récits imbriqués). Au contraire même. Ce qui concerne la partie « science-fiction » de l'œuvre est assez courte au final, parce qu'une fois le « monstre » créé, l'œuvre devient un récit quasi classique qui pourrait se résumer à la lutte entre un homme et ses propres démons. Pour ce qui est du récit lui-même, j'ai trouvé qu'il se résume aux lamentations du personnage principal, Frankenstein, et secondairement de sa création (le récit de ce dernier est assez succinct). Frankenstein ne se remet jamais vraiment en question et ne fait que se plaindre de son sort. Je m'excuse pour l'usage de ces expressions (sujettes à polémique), mais certains pourraient y voir de la « victimisation » ou de la « course victimaire ».

Shadowhite reviewed Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein withstood the test of time

5 stars

Reading the original after only knowing various adaptations is striking. A well-presented tale of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the chain of moral failures.

childeofentropy reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

a master in ethics

5 stars

this is my favourite novel. it's a master in ethics and drama. a must-read for anyone

Nuryta reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Letras universales; 230)

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Mi primera experiencia con un audiolibro y me ha parecido maravilloso. Tanto la modalidad de lectura como la obra en sí. Es increíble como el cine ha llegado a tergiversar de tal forma una novela tan maravillosa, que nos hace sentir y reflexionar a cada paso de la trama.

Mary Shelley tenía un genio sorprendente, tanto para orquestar semejante relato, como para cuestionar aspectos importantes de la ciencia y la ética del momento y que probablemente, se sigan planteando dudas e inquietudes en el presente.

Tiene acaso el científico el derecho de dar vida a un ser por el simple hecho de poder hacerlo, qué responsabilidades le implican con tal decisión. Es acaso su creación merecedora de la vida que le fue otorgada y de las experiencias a qué fue sometido. Quién debe asumir las consecuencias. Creo que hoy es fácil ponerse en el lugar del “monstruo” y cuestionar al …

Cheri reviewed Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley (Enriched classic)

Review of 'Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus' on 'Storygraph'

3 stars

Glad I finally got around to reading it.

Lois reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

listened to it for Halloween :)

sidra reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Storygraph'

2 stars

Mary Shelley really did a commendable job on this book especially considering her age and the society she was placed in. However, this book didn't stant out to me as much as I hoped it would.

Allen reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This was an amazing book, and the writing was very poetic. The banter between Frankenstein and his monster was awesome. The book was a little slow at first, but quickly picked up. Also, I the monster was very different than I expected; and I sympathized more with him than his creator (even though his crimes were horrific).

mikewilson reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Dan Stevens' reading of the audiobook is terrific.

Steen Christiansen reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

A stunning engagement with the idea of humanity and humanism.

The Gnome King reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I read this when I was a teen and found it dull and tough to read. Now though, I'm all growed up and my vocabulary has increased to just over 40 words (including, luckily, countenance) I enjoyed this more second time around.

There are two annoying things though with the book. 1. The lack of science, it was like "oh I think I'll make a person, bish, bash, bosh, tadaaaaaaa!!!!!" and then "I don't really like it". 2. Frankenstein is such a pathetic excuse for a man, so much drama each time somebody dies. Was this written by a girl or something?

In conclusion I enjoyed this, the chase and the constant search for revenge made for a gripping read.

TVLuke reviewed Frankenstein: Mary Shelley 1831 Edition by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein: Mary Shelley 1831 Edition' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Let me just say this, before I get into what might be considered spoilers (but I think they are just basic plot points) that this is not all that good. Shelley dwells on landscapes and ever repeating inner monologues of how bad the narrator (who is changing a few times) feels. They all feel bad. constantly. So bad that they get sick for month. Constantly. It's a drag. Also: Landscapes. Pages and pages of landscapes. Just... you know. Cause.

The Story doesn't start with Franskenstein but with an explorer writing to his sister in England. He is going on an exploring trip with a ship to the north pole. There he meets Frankenstein, who tells him the story of his life (because apparently he has time for that). Now the Narrator is Frankenstein who does what he does (no spoilers so no details, but I think its save to say he creates a monster... that should not be considered a spoiler). At some point the monster gets to tell the story of its life, switching the narrator to the monster who encounters people, who's entire life story he relates to his creator who relates them to the explorer who writes them to his sister which is what we read.

Whenever Shelley finds another way to wring life out of a story as dead as the matter from which the monster is created it just gets more boring.

Why 2 Stars then: Because a) clearly this book is incredibly influential to a huge genre of books and deserves at least a star for this. Later books on the subject of creating life/playing god/the responsibility of science to morality may be better, more structured, less prolonged by completely useless stories of french refugees but this is one of the first. b) the basic story, striping away all the surrounding rubbish and the landscapes, is good.

localstatic reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I think everyone has had some exposure to the general idea of what this book is about. I certainly had, and was not altogether excited by the prospect of reading it. I got a free copy, and decided to dive in anyway. I'm so glad that I did. The story was much deeper than I'd ever thought it was based on the modern re-imaginings that we've probably all seen in various media. The monster was not just some groaning & slow-moving zombie, but rather a thoughtful and tormented being. He not only is able to speak, but can be quite eloquent and persuasive when he is so inclined. Frankenstein himself is similarly not the maniacal mad scientist that he is often portrayed to be.

I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone. I am very glad to have read it, despite my initial hesitance.

Michael @ Knowledge Lost reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This truly is a classic tale of social insight, a story of one seeking acceptance and desiring companionship but being rejected and branded a monster. The thing that I liked most about this book is the fact that it’s divided into two accounts, designed to view both sides of the story. The first part of the book ‘Frankenstein’ tells the story of the life of Victor Frankenstein, the creation of Monster Frankenstein and the death of his younger brother William. A servant ‘Justine’ has been put on trial for this murder, but Victor knows the identity of the true killer. Monster Frankenstein and Victor finally meet up and despite his desire to kill his creation, Victor is forced to listen to the monster’s story, after being threatened.

‘The Modern Prometheus’ tells the story of the Monster Frankenstein, confused and unsure from the very first day of life, found himself hiding in the woods watching people and learning how to find food, create a fire and how to differentiate between the feelings of happiness and sadness. Watching a family in poverty taught Monster Frankenstein many things and he started chopping wood and shoveling snow for the family while they slept. His loneliness finally drove him to show himself to this family who ended up running away in fear. With a mixture of loneliness and anger, he seeks out his creator, finding his way to William where he decides to kidnap him for companionship and ends up accidentally strangling him.

This is where the two stories meet and monster Frankenstein pleads with Victor saying he’s ‘a good creature turned bad by unforgiving humans who scoffed at friendship’. The monster pleads with Victor to make him a companion which he would take and never be heard from again. Victor reluctantly agrees but found it harder and harder to do, even though his family was in danger. Victor began to realize the female companion could wreck much havoc by giving birth to more monsters and refusing to be with the monster as a mate altogether.
Monster Frankenstein swears revenge and goes about killing everyone close to Victor in attempt to show Victor what it feels like to be alone. As Frankenstein dies, the monster appears in his room and begs his dead body for forgiveness.

In the end the story has no true villain or hero. Monster Frankenstein and Victor Frankenstein were both portrayed as hero and villain. The story also leaves you wondering on how you treat others, do our actions end up turning people into a ‘monsters’? Overall this was a brilliant story, although the language was at times hard to understand, it is still worth the read.

This review originally appeared on my blog; www.knowledgelost.org/book-reviews/genre/gothic/frankenstein-or-the-modern-prometheus-2/

Stonebender reviewed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Review of 'Frankenstein' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

OK forget all the movies you've seen on Frankenstein. Even the ones that say that they're closer to the actual story. The book is so very different from any of the stories. A truly fine example of early science fiction. It has its problems due to the differing aesthetics in Ms. Shelley's time and ours, but still worth a read.