Frankenstein: by Mary Shelley

by Moondust

The idea of a reanimated corpse was famously conceived by an 18 year old Mary Shelley on holiday with her future husband Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron near Lake Geneva, Switzerland. The three were tasked with writing a ghost story, which resulted in one of the most famous novels to come from the 19th century. Published anonymously in a three volume series, Frankenstein instantly set the standard for a true literary horror and its themes led many to believe it was the first true science fiction novel. In 1831 and after much pressure, Mary Shelley revised the text to be more fitting to contemporary standards. Presented here by Reader's Library Classics is the original 1818 text of Frankenstein. Young scientist Victor Frankenstein, grief-stricken over the death of his mother, sets out in a series of laboratory experiments testing the ability to create life from non-living matter. Soon, his experiments progress further until he creates a humanoid creature eight feet tall. But as Frankenstein soon discovers, a successful experiment does not always equal a positive outcome.

303 pages, Hardcover

First published July 23, 2007

Reviews

[Gaby Valle · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’re taken through the experience of Víctor whose ambition gets the better of him. He shows you his aspirations and you feel them too. His ambitions know no bounds and he creates literal life. The first thing he does is lament himself and run from the creature and wishes it dead.

Victors life then takes a turn and is experiencing loss. However, instead of coming clean assuming the consequences remains silent and doesn’t confess to the authorities what he created.
He laments himself and is in anguish but doesn’t take true action to show just how sorry he is. He claims responsibility internally without ever assuming it.

So there comes a question, is being sorry enough? Or does taking accountability for your actions show true repentance?

We then see creatures point of view. He is intelligent for he himself mentions he has needs.
Needs to be loved, accepted and needs to feel the warmth of a smile directed towards him. To his demise because of the way he looks he is rejected through and through even by his own creator. Hatred does not come naturally to creature he wants a chance to be able to love but because of rejection he then grows bitter.
It proves villains aren’t born they are made. Creature never chose to be brought to this world. And because of Victors negligence creature is living in utter misery because he is deprived from the very necessities that make life beautiful. I do not condone murder but I can see what drove creature to it.

Victor occupies the role of a parent who refused to nurture and protect. He detests what he created without acknowledging his obligation to it. Victor in many ways is the real monster in the story not because he created life but because he chose to abandon it.

[Jacopo Camilleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrariamente a quanto si direbbe dal senso comune, non sono molte le persone a sapere di cosa parla davvero la storia del dottor Frankenstein e del Mostro che ha generato. Ciò che la cultura pop ci ha quasi sempre presentato come un'avventura gotica con molto spazio per l'action, è in realtà nel testo originale un complesso racconto morale e psicologico, in cui l'identità di chi è buono e chi è malvagio si sdoppia e si fonde in un continuo accavallarsi di opposti e sovrapposizioni. È inutile anche solo suggerire una chiave di lettura di questa storia: ognuno deciderà da sé chi è il vero mostro e se ce n'è davvero uno. Anticipando di diversi anni la tematica del doppio, oggi cristallizzata perlopiù in Dr. Jekyll e Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein pone le basi per moltissime storie successive che a esso saranno sempre debitrici. Il capolavoro di Mary Shelley è destinato a restare immortale ancora per parecchio tempo. Se ne consiglia la lettura a tutti, grandi e piccini, grazie a una scrittura asciutta, scorrevole, ma non per questo vuota di sentimento.

[Francesco Marano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is slightly better.
There are too many inconsistencies with the Netflix movie. I'm sure Guillermo del Toro read the original but probably had to make some adjustments. Here's what i found (so far):
1. The creature does not come to life by lightning. It's unclear how he came to life in the original Mary Shelley book
2. Victor Frankenstein doesn't kill Elizabeth, the creature strangles her
3. The old blind man does not get eating by a pack of wolves, he and his family survive. The family abandons the cottage leaving the creature along and enraged
4. Victor does not have a wooden leg anytime in the book
5. The creature doesn't blow himself up with dynamite. Dynamite didn't exist in 1818.
6. The creature does not push the ship back into the sea. The captain abandons the ship and heads back to England.
Plus, i think, the creature might have had feelings for her and vice versa. Although I enjoyed the film adaptation very much with its special effects and eye candy, the book (in my opinion) was better. That's my .02.

[Karen Valenzuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me sucedio con este libro lo que me sucede con casi todos los libros clasicos. Conozco la historia porque nos la han contado de mil maneras en muchos formatos. Y la historia de Frankenstein es una historia llena de horror humana y de mucha tristeza ante lo que malamente juzgamos a primera vista como “monstruo”. Permitiendo no ver el corazón de las personas, y nublando nuestros ojos de odio y de angustia.
Pero el libro en si, fue muy aburrido de leer. Demasiado detalle que considero innecesario. Para plantearte que el personaje estaba triste y asustado, Mary tomaba 2 a 3 hojas de explicación y descripción. Y yo me tome 2 palabras “triste y asustado”. Yo se que a mucha gente le encanta este tipo de lectura, porque tiene ser “romantica”, pero para mi es solo perdida de tiempo. Yo quiero saber la historia, quiero que avance, quiero ver el desenlace y el problema. Así como la solución y el camino que se tomo.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

M-a impresionat profund acest roman gotic clasic. Pur și simplu l-am devorat. M-am întrebat pe tot parcursul cărții cum ar fi arătat povestea dacă Frankenstein ar fi ales să creeze și o ființă feminină pentru creatura sa. Ar fi fost iubirea suficientă pentru a-l salva? Ar fi putut apropierea, blândețea și sentimentul că aparține cuiva să vindece ura născută din singurătate?

Poate că adevăratul monstru nu este creatura, ci lipsa de compasiune a oamenilor. Monstrul nu se naște monstru; devine astfel, puțin câte puțin, prin respingere, frică, cruzime și durerea provocată de ceilalți, de la care nu își dorește decât iubire, profunzime, blândețe și vulnerabilitate. Și nu ajung oare uneori și oamenii la fel? Deformați nu de natura lor, ci de răni, trădări și lipsa iubirii? 💔

O carte tristă, întunecată și profund umană, mult mai filozofică și emoționantă decât mă așteptam.

[Hugo Aburto · Rating 3 out of 5]

No hay nada mejor para tranquilizar la mente que un propósito constante, un punto donde el alma puede fijar la mirada de su intelecto

Llega al cabo un tiempo en el que el luto tiene más de capricho que de necesidad.

Un ser humano cabal debe mantener siempre el ánimo tranquilo y sosegado, sin consentir jamás que una pasión o un deseo pasajero le perturben la calma.

Pero descubrió que entre los placeres de la vida del viajero se encieran muchas pesadumbres. El viajero tiene siempre los sentimientos en tensión, y, cuando ha empezado a caer en el reposo, se ve obligado a dejar su lugar de descanso agradable en busca de algo nuevo, que también le llama
la atención, y que también deberá abandonar por otras novedades.

[Maefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic for obvious reasons. I understand why she wrote it. Mary Shelley was disowned by her dad for being the other woman in an affair, and dodging marriage and motherhood on purpose, while her own mother passed when she was young. She wrote a story about a creature so loathed by its father, and Victor, who avoided marriage the majority of the book and experienced great tragedy once married then died afterwards.

Also Victor was a pain in the ass. Glad he kicked the bucket finally. C'est la vie.

[Alexa Rayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 3.5 out of 5 stars. The novel has an interesting story and explores important themes like ambition, responsibility, and isolation. Some parts were very engaging, especially the creature's experiences and emotions and him understanding his own character. However, the old writing style and long descriptions made certain sections difficult to follow. Overall, it is a thought out book that I enjoyed, even though it was sometimes slow-paced and challenging to understand.

[lu cortinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ la verdad es que esta bueno, aunque me pareció MUY repetitivo respecto de cómo se sentían los personajes (más que nada víctor) y había demasiada descripción a cosas innecesarias. lo leí porque vi la peli (2025) y me gustó más la película que el libro. siento que se aprecia mucho más que el verdadero monstruo es Victor y no la criatura, y tenía otros detalles que me gustaron más. le sumo media estrella más por las últimas palabras de la criatura 😭. víctor te odio.

[Elwira Księgarka na regale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grupa Wydawnicza Filia tworzy kolejną serią klasyków na rynku wydawniczym, sięgając po literaturę, która stała się ponadczasowa, a jedyne co się zmienia, to jej czytelnicy. Dorian Gray napotkał mnie na mojej studenckiej drodze na filologii angielskiej i tak skutecznie porwał mnie swoją wielopłaszczyznową opowieścią, że stał się ważnym elementem mojej pracy magisterskiej. Dostojewski zakochał mnie w literaturze rosyjskiej, gdy byłam licealistką poznającą powoli swój gust czytelniczy, za pośrednictwem „Zbrodni i kary”, zatem z miłą chęcią wróciłam do niego w małej-wielkiej powieści „Białe noce”. Z kolei Mary Shelley i jej kultowy „Frankenstein” zawsze przemijali się u mnie w formach adaptacji filmowych, zatem z wielką chęcią sięgnęłam w końcu po oryginalną historią bez alternatywnych wersji scenarzystów.

„Frankenstein” w wyobraźni czytelników często bywa kategoryzowana jako książka grozy, a to filozoficzna rozprawa nad konsekwencjami ludzkich ambicji i jeden z dotkliwszych traktatów o dogłębnej samotności jednostki. Przepadłam w tej prozie pełnej chłodu i namiętności rozbijających się od siebie w kontrastujących ze sobą postaciach twórcy i monstrum. Shelley stworzyło niesłychane dzieło, które wciąż zaświadcza o humanizmie odrzucanej istoty. „Frankenstein” nieustannie porusza swoimi pytania o granicę pomiędzy postępem a moralnością. Język jest ucztą dla czytelnika - klasyczny, ale bez patosu, przepełniony emocjonalną nutą rozterek bohaterów uwypuklający ich osobne tragedie. Niesamowity klasyk kwestionujący doszukiwanie potworności w niewinności.

[Laura Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a massive milestone to finally sit down and experience the real Frankenstein. Most of us grow up with the monster with the green skin, the neck bolts and the mindless grunting, so discovering that the actual novel is a deeply poetic, heartbreaking and philosophical masterpiece was amazing. Mary Shelley’s original text is a sophisticated novel, that explores the very essence of what it means to be human.

[Hakim Heinz]

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was very interesting. I enjoyed the choices of language in this book. It was a bit hard to follow and to read along to. Even with this disadvantage I really liked this book. This book makes me want to compare and contrast with the movie! I would recommend this to everyone who wants an original good read.

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

No lo he acabado, tal como está redactado me estaba costando muchísimo seguir. Me he quedado por la mitad. Le pongo 3 estrellas porque la historia como concepto me gusta y creo que a nivel de contexto histórico fue importante :D

[Dawn Runaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic that blends sci-fi and gothic lit and is beautifully well written. The conflicts of humanity and ambition, creation and grief are profound. Which is the bigger failure; creating a monster or abandoning it?

[Claire Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a book. I grew up knowing the green monster with the bolts in his neck but Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is so much more. Poetic, sophisticated and beautifully written. This is my first classic book since I was a child but I'm aiming for one every 2 months.

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het moet eigenlijk een 3 en een half zijn. Om de een of andere reden heb ik delen van het boek gewoon niet zo goed opgeslagen waardoor ik het moeilijk vond om er helemaal in te komen.
Het is echter wel super mooi omschreven en je voelt echt de pijn die Frankenstein en het monster met zich mee dragen. Het verhaal is onderhoudend en de vragen die het oproept zijn interessant om over na te denken.

[Gemma González · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 estrellas por su speech del final y porque es mary shelley

[Agustina Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

🫶🏻

[Paulina Novoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una obra de mucha reflexión. Muy triste darse cuenta que el real horror, es la sociedad en la que vivimos.

[Sarah Doncouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars. Gothic sci-fi horror. Heartbreaking, enthralling, infuriating, wonderful storytelling and prose. Mary Shelley was a BRILLIANT talent.

[Sr Cobaya Snj · Rating 5 out of 5]

siempre un placer leerlo.

[Siegrid Keeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this so much

[esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stellar story from the way back when
Beautiful writing to inspire the heart and mind
With a timeless tale that resonates
A tragedy