Frankenstein: The First Two Hundred Years

by Christopher Frayling

Frankenstein lives! 200 years of the book, the movies and the monster in pop culture and beyond

On New Year’s Day 1818, Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein was first published in an anonymous three-volume edition of 500 copies. Some thought the book was too radical in its implications; a few found the central theme intriguing; no-one predicted its success.

Since then, there have been many, many adaptations―120 films alone, at the last count―on screen, stage, in novels, comics and graphic novels, in advertisements and even on cereal packets. From a Regency nightmare, Frankenstein became a cuddly childhood companion―thoroughly munstered, so to speak. The story has been interpreted as a feminist allegory of birthing, an ecological reading of mother earth, an attack on masculinist science, the origin of science fiction, an example of “female gothic,” a reaction to the rise of the industrial proletariat and much else besides. Frankenstein lives! The F word has been applied, since the 1950s, to test-tube babies, heart transplants, prosthetics, robotics, cosmetic surgery, genetic engineering, genetically modified crops and numerous other public anxieties arising from scientific research. Today, Frankenstein has taken over from Adam and Eve as the creation myth for the age of genetic engineering.

This book, celebrating the 200th birthday of Frankenstein, traces the journey of Shelley’s Frankenstein from limited-edition literature into the bloodstream of contemporary culture. With text by renowned Gothic scholar Sir Christopher Frayling, it includes new research on the novel’s origins; a facsimile reprint of the earliest-known manuscript version of the creation scene; visual material on adaptations for the stage, in magazines, on playbills, in prints and in book publications of the 19th century; visual essays on many of the film versions and their inspirations in the history of art; and Frankenstein in popular culture―on posters, advertisements, packaging, in comics and graphic novels.

Genres: Nonfiction, Horror, Books About Books, Victor Frankenstein, Film, History, Gothic

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 2017

Reviews

[WendyB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and extremely detailed account of the creation of the novel Frankenstein in the first half of the book. Second half is coffee table material with lots of full page pictures of the Frankenstein creature through the years.

[Perry Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I thought this would be a pretty coffee table book, but without much depth. Oh, was I wrong.

True, this is a lavishly illustrated book; in fact, the last half is all pictures and captions, showing the various adaptations and derivations of “Frankenstein”. I, who have spent a lifetime in the study of horror, still found an amazing number of pictures I had not seen before.

Much of the early part of the book goes into the origin of the novel. Naturally, I had read a great deal about the events of June 17th at Villa Diodati and its famous cast of characters: Mary Godwin, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Claire Clairmont, Lord Byron, and Dr. Polidori. But never have I seen the events so carefully described. Numerous quotes are given from the journals and letters of the participants, in chronological order, and with Frayling’s enlightening analysis. Reading it, one can find themselves alongside Mary Godwin (later, Mary Shelley) as that spark of life creates a vignette in her mind and how it went forth to become the most famous monster novel the world has ever known.

And this book doesn’t stop there. Frayling goes on to tell of the aftermath of “Frankenstein”, including Mary’s publishing woes, the public’s response, and an excellent account of the earliest plays to carry on the tale. This book is highly recommended.

Let the third century of “Frankenstein” begin.

[Jim Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Frayling has done a remarkable job in bringing anyone who has an interest in the FRANKENSTEIN story up-to-speed. Details range a from an in-depth exploration to a high level overview. And for the person who has always wanted a FRANKENSTEIN coffee table book, this one has you covered with a “monstrously rich” collection of beautifully reproduced images.

There are sections that cover:

* A brief synopsis of the novel;

* A familiarization with locales, politics, artistic devices and scientific achievements (and speculations) that had everyone talking;

* A bit of background regarding Mary Godwin, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont, and Dr. John Polidori. Also included are pertinent details of certain family members and the places visited ... especially the stay at Villa Diodati;

* Learned speculation of events that occurred on the evenings of June 17 & 18, 1816 when FRANKENSTEIN was born;

* The publication of the novel, the response, and the various versions;

* Adaptations that firmly entrenched FRANKENSTEIN in the public mind, especially the stage productions and films;

* The legacy of FRANKENSTEIN. (Supposedly, more children today know of the Frankenstein monster than know of President Trump!);

* The aforementioned extensive collection of FRANKENSTEIN images.

Although I have studied FRANKENSTEIN, I did discover some new things here. The book also has inspired me to return to the novel. (I also sought out Ken Russell’s film, GOTHIC, which left me unsatisfied. I’ll be watching HAUNTED SUMMER soon.)

This book was a sheer joy for me. I highly recommend it to anyone who has the least bit of curiosity about FRANKENSTEIN.

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is pretty amazing that an 18 year old woman who ran away for a summer vacation with her boyfriend, “illegitimate” son, and eccentric friends came up with one of the most well known horror stories. If the weather hadn’t been so dreary to lead to a ghost telling night, who knows if Shelly would ever have devised the story of Frankenstein. My complaint about the book is the size makes it hard to transport to read and I found the way the story was told to be a bit slow and confusing at times.

[Eric David Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have time for only one book about the history and influence of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this is it. Concise, objective, yet complete, with an excellent account fo the author's life, the writing of Frankenstein, and its aftermath. Be aware, though, that almost half of the page count is made up of an illustrated section on the movies and influences in pop culture.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating history of this book that is more remembered for the movies and plays that came from it than the book itself. Really enjoyed the theological and philosophical background of the book. Mary Shelley made very little money from the book and the plays, and later movies, made it famous. Very enjoyable and attractive book.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for anyone wanting to delve into the path Mary Godwin's creation has taken.

[Chuck White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know about the creation of the classic sci-fi novel and the woman who wrote it. Great stuff.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Frayling writes with humor and clarity in this book that covers many topics. It's partly a biography of Mary Shelley and his noteworthy compatriots, with the focus always on the creation of her novel. It gives glimpses into the literary movements of the time, the struggles of poverty, publishing, and pretentious attitudes of the time. Also traced is the wild popularity of the story from stage to screen. With plenty of fun trivia and amazing paintings and poster prints included, any fans of Frankenstein, classic literature, and cinema should give this a read.

[Doris Raines]

ONE MY FAVORITE MOVIES IN THE DAY FS.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this is a nice compendium of Mary Shelley lore and Frankenstein cinematic history for the 200th anniversary. I would suggest it for those already familiar with Shelley's personal life and relationships. It provides highlights and anecdotes about the writer and editing process that led to the classic novel we know today. The film history mainly focuses on Universal, touches on Hammer, and provides snippets on other notable versions. Something that was definitely missed here was a nod to Penny Dreadful's brilliant Frankenstein storyline, which I think has been one of the most important additions in recent years.