Frankenstein: Updated 1831 Edition

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Paul Michael (Narrator)

Although the story of Frankenstein is well known and commonly referenced, experiencing the original novel is well worth the endeavor and illuminates the true depth and complexity that is often missed in modern references. A tale not just of monsters and dark shadows, but of hubris, romance, regret, loss, adventure, morality, isolation, and much more.

Science student, Victor Frankenstein, attempts a new and dark experiment, successfully bringing life to a powerful and grotesque being. Shocked and appalled, his negative reaction sends the confused and now enraged creature into a quest for revenge, while simultaneously searching desperately for acceptance, knowledge, and understanding. Frankenstein must contend with not only the more predictable consequences of such a beast, but also with knowing he, himself, is the ultimately the orchestrator of the mounting destruction, the damaged mind and purpose of this living thing, the losses that occur during both creator and creation’s journey, as well as the destruction he must now seek for the life he created.

This series, published by ONE Audiobooks, seeks to produce Classic titles read by well known and loved audiobook narrators. ONE takes great care to cast these titles with readers who will provide an unmatched listening experience for these important works.

Paul Michael brings his passion to every performance and is considered to be one of the top audiobook narrators in the industry.

Audible Audio

Published December 6, 2023

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

[Jenny Ervin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually my 4th time reading this book, and it still holds up. I read it for the first time when I was 17 and I immediately knew it was one I was going to revisit. I pick it up again every few years and typically devour it within a day or so.

Unfortunately this time I was just not in the headspace for the language, and I had to put it down and take a break for some silly modern romances to give my brain a break. But I knew I had to finish it because it’s just so good, every time.

Mary Shelley is brilliant, and the fact that she was so young when she wrote the original, is just fascinating. She’s the mother of science fiction and wrote a truly stunning novel. This is one book that I think should ALWAYS be required reading, and is a brilliant look at our society (even hundreds of years ago) and what awaits those with unbridled ambition.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is somewhat unbelievable that I had never read Frankenstein, but somehow I hadn't. I'm not really a huge fan of scary stories, which I am sure is what kept me away from it all these years, but I found it much more interesting than I had expected. Although the story is certainly chilling, it isn't just the horror of the monster but the psychology of both the monster and the scientist that makes the story so compelling. I listened to this audiobook edition, which included a preface by the author and found it very well done.

[Scarlett Stamos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable but albeit, boring. I understand the writing is old but even the plot was dull. Victor was a very whiny character and there were not any other dynamic characters. It was hard to get through. With this being said, I think the end was brought to a very good close. The ending was engaging and left me with a more positive light on the book.