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Frankenstein / The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
This Townsend Library classic has been carefully edited to be more accessible to today's students. It includes a background note about the book, an author's biography, and a lively afterword. Acclaimed by educators nationwide, the Townsend Library is helping millions of young adults discover the pleasure and power of reading.
147 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1878
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About the author
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
2,342 books8,509 followersMary 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 7, 2024
I had to come back to this book and give it one more star after realizing I gave it 3 stars out of my own desire for it to end with redemption. But that’s actually what makes this already captivating read such a great imagery of human experience. We are naturally evil and selfish & all so in need of compassion and love and this book paints a scary picture of the monster we become when we are depraved from that experience. I couldn’t put this book down; read it on a flight & finished it as I walked out of the airport.
For being an abbreviated version for a simpler read, this was still a captivating story. So much so that I think I’m going to go read the original Frankenstein.
Bonus: watch the Mary Shelley movie for some cinematic insight into the life she lived to inspire such a book.
For being an abbreviated version for a simpler read, this was still a captivating story. So much so that I think I’m going to go read the original Frankenstein.
Bonus: watch the Mary Shelley movie for some cinematic insight into the life she lived to inspire such a book.
May 16, 2018
Very abridged versions of both novels. Worked well with my middle school low-level readers.
May 10, 2020
Pretty solid edition for the classroom. It's abridged making it easier to read, but I wish I had the full version to really dive into the depth of the story.
October 10, 2009
8.
Victor Frankenstein made a large and man-kind creature who has no mame and like a monster. However, the creature rejected by Victor and many hummans. It leads to the deaths of Victor's lover,brother, father, and himself. The creature said that he desired love and fellowship, but was spurned. At the end of tje story, the creature plans to commit suicide. While I was reading this book, I rembered a muderer. He killed many rich people in Korea, because when he was child, he was poor, so he couldn't go to school. As a result, he felt abunded from world, and he began to hate rich people. I think it is same case. Usually, I forgot the poor, bit I remember them only for christmas. Probably, they need more interested by other people.
14.
Genre of this book is horror story, but I thought another part. Rejected and abused by another people, their incidence of crime increase. A writer seems want to marginalized people are interested by people. If this indifference continue they will be able to control themselves. Myabe, writer wants that hunman don't challenge to do of god, and more attention for poor people.
Victor Frankenstein made a large and man-kind creature who has no mame and like a monster. However, the creature rejected by Victor and many hummans. It leads to the deaths of Victor's lover,brother, father, and himself. The creature said that he desired love and fellowship, but was spurned. At the end of tje story, the creature plans to commit suicide. While I was reading this book, I rembered a muderer. He killed many rich people in Korea, because when he was child, he was poor, so he couldn't go to school. As a result, he felt abunded from world, and he began to hate rich people. I think it is same case. Usually, I forgot the poor, bit I remember them only for christmas. Probably, they need more interested by other people.
14.
Genre of this book is horror story, but I thought another part. Rejected and abused by another people, their incidence of crime increase. A writer seems want to marginalized people are interested by people. If this indifference continue they will be able to control themselves. Myabe, writer wants that hunman don't challenge to do of god, and more attention for poor people.
June 16, 2017
Frankenstein - 2.5 stars
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - 4 stars
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - 4 stars
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews