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Politics Social Sciences

By Self Publishing Titans
Frankenstein: The 1818 Text (Penguin Classics)

Frankenstein: The 1818 Text (Penguin Classics)

by Mary Shelley

4.6 (1847 ratings)
Politics Social Sciences

Published

January 16, 2018

Pages

288 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Penguin Classics

Available Formats & Prices

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Kindle

$9.99

Paperback

$6.56

Audio CD

Not found

About This Book

Mary Shelley’s classic novel, presented in its original 1818 text, with an introduction from National Book Critics Circle award-winner Charlotte Gordon Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read The original 1818 text of Frankenstein preserves the hard-hitting and politically-charged aspects of Shelley’s original writing, as well as her unflinching wit and strong female voice. This edition also emphasizes Shelley’s relationship with her mother—trailblazing feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who penned A Vindication of the Rights of Woman —and demonstrates her commitment to carrying forward her mother’s ideals, placing her in the context of a feminist legacy rather than the sole female in the company of male poets, including Percy Shelley and Lord Byron. This edition includes a new introduction and suggestions for further reading by National Book Critics Circle award-winner and Shelley expert Charlotte Gordon, literary excerpts and reviews selected by Gordon, and a chronology and essay by preeminent Shelley scholar Charles E.

Robinson. Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Introduction

In the bleak landscapes of the early 19th century, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein: The 1818 Text" emerges as a masterpiece intertwining themes of creation, ambition, and humanity's deepest fears. This seminal work marks the birth of science fiction, told through the tragic and haunting journey of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist driven by the obsessive pursuit of knowledge. Shelley crafts a narrative that delves into the consequences of man's unrestrained ambition and the ethical dilemmas that arise when playing God, offering insightful reflections on the essence of humanity and the responsibilities of creators.

Key Takeaways

Frankenstein explores the profound consequences of unchecked ambition and mankind's relentless quest for knowledge. Shelley's novel raises critical ethical questions about the responsibilities and repercussions of creation. The text serves as a pioneering work of science fiction seamlessly blending gothic elements with philosophical inquiry.

Detailed Description

Mary Shelley\'s "Frankenstein: The 1818 Text" is a pioneering work that redefined the boundaries of literature and genre. Written during a time of industrial progress and scientific exploration Shelley introduces readers to Victor Frankenstein a passionate scientist tormented by his own creation. Victor's meticulous endeavor to defy nature's laws results in the birth of the Creature an innocent and misunderstood being who soon becomes a tragic figure of despair.

As the novel unfolds it tackles themes of isolation identity and societal rejection framing compelling questions about morality and humanity. The 1818 edition provides readers with the raw and unaltered narrative envisioned by Shelley capturing the essence of her gothic roots and philosophical musings. These central elements elevate the text from romance to a thought-provoking commentary on creation and destruction.

Shelley's intricate prose and the profound emotional turmoil of her characters challenge readers to reflect on the human condition and the ethical complexities of scientific discoveries. Through its deeply resonant themes and captivating storytelling Frankenstein remains a timeless classic that continues to inspire and provoke intellectual exploration. The novel's relevance endures as it serves both as a cautionary tale on the misuse of scientific knowledge and a profound echo of one's internal struggle to grasp the unknown.

Standout Features

Frankenstein: The 1818 Text" stands out due to its pioneering amalgamation of gothic and philosophical elements setting a precedent in the literary world and establishing Mary Shelley as a visionary author With its intricate exploration of morality and human nature Shelley probes into the ethical implications of creation questioning the very essence of humanity and the boundaries one must navigate in the pursuit of knowledge The novel's timeless resonance lies in its ability to both captivate readers with its gripping narrative and evoke deep reflection on contemporary issues making it as relevant today as it was in the 19th century.

Book Details

ISBN-10:

0143131842

ISBN-13:

978-0143131847

Dimensions:

8.5 x 5.43 x 0.83 inches

Weight:

8.8 ounces

Specifications

Pages:288 pages
Language:English
Published:January 16, 2018
Publisher:Penguin Classics
Authors:Mary Shelley

Rating

4.6

Based on 1847 ratings

Customer Reviews

One of best Sci-Fi Horror books ever written.

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R. Gibson
January 28, 2024

I had read Frankenstein years ago but decided to order both the 1818 orig version and the 1831 more complete version at the same time. I read this version and remembered bits and pieces but in many ways was like a new experience. So many aspects of this book I find incredible and at the same time depressing. I will not give anything away though. I am now looking for faithful movie adaptations which I fear will be hard to find though I just ordered Hallmark version that sounds extremely faithful to the book.

Frankenstein is not what you think.

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Rachel McElhany
October 29, 2018

Frankenstein might be one of the most analyzed and reviewed books of all time. Whole books have been written about this book and its author Mary Shelley. I’m not a literary scholar so my review is going to be short and sweet. You can dig as deeply as you want to on your own time! My book club likes to read at least one classic per year and this year’s was Frankenstein. It was our October pick because it seemed the perfect month to review a book about a monster. Interestingly, there are two editions of Frankenstein. It was originally published in 1818. When it came out, people were aghast that an eighteen year old girl could conceive of such horrors and write about them – ladies being delicate flowers and all that. In 1831 a new edition was published that Shelley had revised from the 1818 version to make the book less shocking. Almost all of my book club buddies and I read the 1818 version published by Penguin Classics. Penguin included a short overview of Shelley’s life. She had quite an eventful one and several biographies about her have been written. Frankenstein was a lot different than I thought it would be. The monster wasn’t an inarticulate beast afraid of fire and being chased by villagers with torches. He was actually quite intelligent. Also, a fair amount of the story was about Dr. Frankenstein’s life independent of the monster. There was much to discuss about this book. We talked about Mary Shelley’s life and how it influenced Frankenstein. There were also many ethical issues to talk about, the first being is it okay for man to create life by means other than normal reproduction. Most everyone liked the book and our discussion went well over our one hour meeting time which hasn’t happened in the time that I’ve been a member. As far as classic literature goes, Frankenstein is accessible and easy to understand. I recommend it for anytime of the year but especially if you’re looking for a good Halloween read.

A surprisingly deep, cerebral, quiet story

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DJ
February 18, 2024

“If any being felt emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return them an hundred and an hundred fold; for that one creature’s sake, I would make peace with the whole kind!” (p114) Most people know there’s a world of difference between the modern, popular image of the Frankenstein story and Mary Shelley’s novel. I certainly did, but I didn’t expect the complex, deep, cerebral, and (mostly) quiet tale I encountered. What a great reading experience! I was especially surprised by the creature’s lengthy, nuanced, first-person account of its own story. I originally wanted to buy the Norton Critical Edition (1831 version of the story). To my surprise, however, I encountered warnings during the buying process that suggested incompatibility issues with my (gen 7) Kindle. I cancelled the sale and went with the Penguin edition (1818 version of the story). The Penguin edition is a good quality product -- not the low-budget OCR monstrosity you often see with eReader versions of older works. I do wish it had included text notes.

Penguin Classics Edition Review - 1818 Version

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Matthew A. Wirta
February 28, 2021

I first read Frankenstein in my mid-twenties one-hundred years ago. I read the Bantam edition and I don't remember if that was the 1818 version or the 1831 revised version. It's fun to read the originally published version because I think it's the truest thing to Mary Shelley's original concept, before the backlash of critics when she then felt she had to alter some of the stories and add things to please the conservative minds that might have deemed many of her concepts as amoral. So this version by Penguin Classics stating which version it is is nice. On that note, I must say that I wish, and this is just a nit-picky thing, that Penguin Classics would up the size of their font just a little. With this new edition and new artwork on the cover, I was hoping to see a new and improved font size, but no. Or, if it is, it's still very small to me. Beyond the font size, I will say, that this version has a lot of wonderful extras to it. Not only does it come with Charlotte Gordon's introduction, but also an essay by Charles E. Robinson on how one should read a novel like Frankenstein (as it tackles many vast subjects), then there's Mary's Shelley's introduction to the 1831 version, excerpts from The King James Bible, Genisis and the Creation of Eve, a poem by Lord Byron, a letter from Mary Shelley, excerpts from Shelley's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft's book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, and an entry from Shelley's diary. All in all, it's a wonderful addition to one of the greatest novels ever written! Do I wish that the font was more reader-friendly? Yes, but beyond that, it's a great deal for the price and it's a book that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. The themes and story still hold up today. And the Penguin Classics edition has a lot of wonderful extra material for you to enjoy.

A beautifully formatted version

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Learning Lab Mom
September 8, 2024

My biggest frustration with books that are in the public domain is there are so many HORRIBLE versions floating around on Amazon. Anyone can slap words on to a page, choose itty-bitty margins, terrible formatting, and a questionable cover, and still sell their book. THUS ... I am picky about my versions. I was pleased this was everything I want in a classic book I plan to use for a class I'm teaching. It's well-formatted, an easy-to-read font, a great forward, and a cover that actually has thought about the content.