Frankenstein: or `The Modern Prometheus': The 1818 Text: Or "The Modern Prometheus" - The 1818 Text (Oxford World's Classics)

Any book that was written almost 200 years ago is not going to read like the books we pick up from Waterstone's or WH Smith nowadays. In a time where the most prized attribute of 'polite society' (apart from wealth) was the art of conversation any book is going to concentrate on what is spoken between the characters rather than the nitty gritty of the story. This can become...more

Any book that was written almost 200 years ago is not going to read like the books we pick up from Waterstone's or WH Smith nowadays. In a time where the most prized attribute of 'polite society' (apart from wealth) was the art of conversation any book is going to concentrate on what is spoken between the characters rather than the nitty gritty of the story. This can become tedious to those of us brought up expecting twists and turns in stories to be either spelled out or hinted at. However, putting aside the fact that the 'monster' learns language, philosophy, geography, reading and writing and lots more besides merely by eavesdropping on a family whist hiding his lumbering 8 foot frame in a collapsed pig sty the conversations are revealing. Mary Shelly obviously had 'issues' at the time of writing this... it seems to me that all the relationships had a somewhat suspect aspect to them and this, I believe, is one of the main themes of the book. Space here prevents me from expanding.   hide

It a fantastic book who makes you think about live after death. Not a lot to do with versions in old films. I only like Kenneth Branagh version film. It's very phylosophical. I like it very much, and taught me a lot about writing novels technique in 19th C .

Deeply insightful, an exploration of the cruelty of humans and the limits man will push in the name of science. And by the way, please note that Frankenstein is the name of the creator...not the monster. The creature never has a name.

Don't read this looking for the movie monster. He ain't in here.