Frankenstein (1831 Edition): 200th Anniversary Collection

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Theodor von Holst (illustrator)

150 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2024

About the author

Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, often known as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, travel writer, and editor of the works of her husband, Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. She was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the writer, philosopher, and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.

Mary Shelley was taken seriously as a writer in her own lifetime, though reviewers often missed the political edge to her novels. After her death, however, she was chiefly remembered only as the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein. It was not until 1989, when Emily Sunstein published her prizewinning biography Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality, that a full-length scholarly biography analyzing all of Shelley's letters, journals, and works within their historical context was published.

The well-meaning attempts of Mary Shelley's son and daughter-in-law to "Victorianise" her memory through the censoring of letters and biographical material contributed to a perception of Mary Shelley as a more conventional, less reformist figure than her works suggest. Her own timid omissions from Percy Shelley's works and her quiet avoidance of public controversy in the later years of her life added to this impression.

The eclipse of Mary Shelley's reputation as a novelist and biographer meant that, until the last thirty years, most of her works remained out of print, obstructing a larger view of her achievement. She was seen as a one-novel author, if that. In recent decades, however, the republication of almost all her writings has stimulated a new recognition of its value. Her voracious reading habits and intensive study, revealed in her journals and letters and reflected in her works, is now better appreciated. Shelley's recognition of herself as an author has also been recognized; after Percy's death, she wrote about her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea". Scholars now consider Mary Shelley to be a major Romantic figure, significant for her literary achievement and her political voice as a woman and a liberal.

Reviews

[aneesa✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don’t even know what to say.
i wish i could have a conversation with mary shelley. to know what her brain was thinking when she wrote this would be immensely cool.
this book is such a classic, everyone should read it once in their lives.

[jassehassenöt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typ inte så bra som folk sa att den skulle va?? Shelley verkar ha rätt långa beskrivningar som jag kan tycka är lite för långa, tappade fokus rätt snabbt så det va lite svårt att hänga med. Det påverkade liksom min overall experience av boken. Tyckte dock väldigt mycket om konceptet, undrar hur man kommer på nåt sånt. Inte min typ av bok bara men en klassiker som alla borde ha läst ändå

[Adrienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate Victor. I wanted to like this book more bc duh, it's Frankenstein but Victor just pisses me off fr. If he isn't describing the look of the mountains in extreme detail, he's just whining. Best part of the book was chapters 11-15 when we saw the creature's POV. Other than that, it was a fine read.

Notable Scenes:
- the monster sustaining himself off of just berries in the woods bc he was stealing the humans'
food and then realized that he was causing their suffering... what a sweet, considerate baby
(Victor could never)
- Victor tearing up the female companion he made for the monster right in front of him... wtf
- mostly anytime the monster spoke, he was eating Victor up... just absolutely spitting bars

[Katherine's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was the first work I’ve ever read by Mary Shelley, and I absolutely fell in love with her beautiful, descriptive writing. I found myself not wanting to put it down, completely drawn into the way she explores themes like the lack of consideration for the consequences of scientific pursuits, the masculine and egotistical ambition to create life without nurturing or taking responsibility for it, as well as loneliness, abandonment, and vengeance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more of her work! 🖤📚✨

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 4 stars for being well-written, but I give it 3 stars for my enjoyment of it. I had a hard time sympathizing consistently with the monster. I did not sympathize with Victor! However, I am glad that I read it. The themes of Victor as the bad creator, as compared with God, the good Creator, were fascinating!

[Ben Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different than I thought it would be. I have no idea where my knowledge of Frankenstein’s monster comes from, but my perception of him is very different than the source material.
Also, this book is way shorter than I would have thought, especially considering its lasting cultural impact.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to be Different and prefer the 1818 version, but unfortunately the 1831 version's prose has a nicer flow to it, with a couple of small adjustments to plot that work well in streamlining events.

[m ౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don’t think i enjoyed this book as much because i had to read it for a literature class but it is a good book just not my favorite