Frankenstein (Collins Classics)

Shelley’s novel is transgressive in its content, and more transgressive in its nature – written by a female (at age 19!) under a pseudonym to penetrate the public approval. This novel explores human emotions, good and bad, in response to the ‘Other’ in true gothic fashion. The grunting, green-faced, bolt-bearing monster depicted by film and media is a pale imitation of Shelley’s masterpiece – but the original is a 'blue-print' for all monster creations. Despite being a cautionary tale on how nature, which is essentially good, can be corrupted by ill treatment – contemporary depictions have departed from the original characterization of an extremely well-spoken monster with immense speed and grace. PLOT (4.5/5) An intelligent and ambitious young student indulges a moment of thoughtless scientific passion and creates life. Horrified at his creation, Victor Frankenstein shuns the creature and attempts to discard it from his life and thoughts. The creature, however, is lost in an unkind world and seeks affection, and upon rejection then seeks revenge. STUDENT NOTES (5/5) + Although many reviewers note The York Notes version usefulness at GCSE, I found in instrumental at helping me receive an A* at A-Level as well: a) The (character, theme and quotation) analysis is brilliant, clear and precise. b) The exam questions, key quotations and chapter summaries were invaluable c) The responses to the text, both modern and those from Shelley's contemporaries are invaluable (especially the feminist and psychoanalytical essays). CHARACTERS (5/5) + Both main characters are easy to empathise with despite being completely at heads – both Victor (the ambitious scientist who realises his overreach and attempts to redeem himself) and the monster (whose fragile psyche is birthed from rejection) STYLE (4/5) + The original, but nevertheless still one of the most remarkable science fiction stories ever written, its relevance persists today as scientific discovery journeys further than before into ethical ambiguity (GM food, AI, cloning) and discrimination still exists in all its forms. + Typically Romantic and beautifully descriptive prose, particularly regarding the natural world. - The book begins very slowly with excessive detail, and the epistolary form makes it hard to convey any sense of suspense. But if you persist despite this you will be drawn in to Shelley's world.

This book was an amazing read and I highly recommend. It has a faux leather cover, thick pages, coloured rims and a built in ribbon bookmark. It's a very classic book and looks great on a bookshelf. One flaw that I didn't mind that much but others might, is that the leather on the covers is easily scuffed. My book arrived scuffed from new so was a little disappointed. But it is not that noticeable as you can tell.

A great classic. The pages are thin and the cover scratches off but great value for money. A must read.

I did not expect to be gripped by this book, having seen countless film renditions, none of which bear true resemblance to the book! An amazingly thoughtful, tender yet grotesque novel written by a young woman in the early 1800’s! I couldn’t stop turning the page. A great story.

I'm sure everyone knows the name of Frankenstein, which is now equated more with the monster than the name of its inventor. The novel was written in the early part of the nineteenth century when the author Mary Shelley was herself still only in late teens. The narrative, as one would expect, has a rather dated feel to it, and so the writing should be viewed as a product of its time. Many have suggested in reviews that the book is rather florridly over-written in places. Actually I felt the author showed a strong command and use of launguage, although some phrasing and spelling are archaic (hiding in places a number of typos). As everyone is familiar with, Victor Frankenstein creates his monster and brings him to life, although not in a melodramatic manner accompanied by thunder and lightning protrayed by Hollywood. He is however repelled by his creation, which he rejects. The 'monster' seeks acceptance by humans but is meets only repulsion. He therefore becomes embittered and sets out to reek revenge on his creator by killing his family and friends. The story has a slightly curious structure, starting with a series of letters written by an English explorer narrating his journey to the artic circle north of Russia where he encounters Victor Frankenstein adrift on an ice floe as he has pursued his out-of-control creation across continents in an effort to kill it. Frankenstein relates his story to the explorer, thus becoming the narrator. Frankenstein's story includes a meeting with his monstrous creation who articulates his need for companionship and orders Frankenstein to create a female version for companionship because he is rejected by man. Frankenstein considers, ultimately refuses (or destroys his half-made creation) and the monster continues on his destructive mission reeking his revenge on Frankenstein. Although the book is of course a horror/fantasy, in parts the storyline is so implausible that it becomes almost laughable. For example, the monster is able to learn language by hiding in a shed adjacent to a house and listening through the walls, and after about a year is able to converse in the manner of an academic. He is also able to follow Frankenstein wherever he goes, across the English Channel, without discovery despite being eight foot tall and hideously ugly, surviving by eating whatever he can find in the wild. It may be a classic, but it should be read out of curiosity for the original story, rather than in the expectation of a great story.

Excellent quality book. Fantastic backstory, thorough details. Enjoyable read. Great value. Would 100% recommend it!!!

Ever since Mary Shelley had the nightmare that gave birth to the idea of Frankenstein, it has become a very well known, and popular horror story, through film and book. As the original thoughts were preserved in the book, I gave it a read, and was not disappointed. Thematically, the book is enjoyable and a must-read for its originality, Shelley examining the themes of life and death, curse, ambition and revenge. If you can put it into its 19th century context, the idea of creating a life out of death would be regarded as irreverent and horrific, and at the time would have been a true horror story, maybe more appreciated than it is now. It is a story using an epistolary technique that takes you through the rise and fall of Victor Frankenstein (NOT the monster!), whose creation has caved in on himself. Mary Shelley fills the main plot with many intricacies, and slight surprises, which adds to the excitement of the story. Shelley writes in a very eloquent style that represents more the feelings of Frankenstein than external descriptions, the descriptions are normally perceived through his own eyes. The character of Frankenstein is thereby greatly explored, in an interesting way. The reason why I have this book 4 stars is because Shelley's writing can be rather verbose at times, which at times can make small parts of the book unnecessarily described and on the edge of being tedious. Notwithstanding this relatively minor problem, the book is a classic, and for the good reasons above for reading it, it remains a book that you should read.

Frankenstein, or more correctly, Frankentein's Monster, is something known very well in popular culture. Most, when they hear the word Frankenstein conjure up the image of the moaning giant with bolts in his neck popularised throughout 20th century film and television, so I was surprised to discover just how different the original monster in the book is from the one we have come to know. The story is presented in epistolary form, within the frame of correspondence between Captain Robert Walton and his sister, Margaret. Captain Walton tells the tale of how his crew rescued Victor Frankenstein from what would undoubtedly have been a frozen death during their excursion toward the North Pole. From this chance rescue, Victor recounts to Captain Walton the story of how he ended up so far North, explaining to them precisely what was the creature the crew saw pass them a few hours before they rescued Frankenstein. What follows is, in essence, Victor Frankenstein's life story. Beginning with his childhood we come to discover how Victor became acquainted with outdated ideas on Natural Philosophy and what led him to his fascination with life and how life can be created. He recounts the tale of his work in creating the monster that came to be his torturer and come to know of his revulsion of his creation once life was given to it. It is this revulsion of the creature and its subsequent rejection which sets in motion a chain of horrific events perpetrated by the monster which brings Victor to his current state; being rescued by the captain. I won't go into much detail from what I have already said about the story as it is something that is best discovered yourself while reading the story. Many other reviewers have written about how different the book really is from the image of the Frankenstein's Monster we have come to know in popular culture. Most striking is the monster's acquired education and eloquence through his observance of a family over the course of a number of years. The crimes that are committed at the hands of the monster, through his acquired use of language, allow him to explain his motivations and his internal mental torments which thus make him a sympathetic creature. The crimes he has committed are ones of true abhorrence, so perhaps for some it may be difficult to feel that sympathy, but it is the rejection by his creator and his abject loneliness, brought on from being the first and only of his kind, that compels him to act the way he does. The story is truly compelling and sometimes legitimately scary, yet the tale of Frankenstein's monster is perhaps allegorical of the way in which life, happiness and acceptance are viewed, especially in the classical world. Perhaps the monster is even a metaphor for our own pursuit of love, companionship and the struggle to come to terms with our creator (God). In fact, there is reference made to the Biblical 'Adam' in the story, to whom the monster seems to relate, in that Adam's existence was only really complete and satisfied when he had his 'Eve' and the monster's motivation was simply to gain his own 'Eve'. The edition I bought was of the Clothbound Classics series and it has a look and feel to it that makes it a welcome and proud addition to any book shelf, so I would strongly recommend that you pick this up. It really is something to be enjoyed.

It’s a classic story about misery, badness, love, grief. If you are looking for learn about human feeling, this is a great reading.

pen stain on the front cover it felt like a used book very flimsy and creases on the front and spine of the book

Recommend it rather than mid-movies

Only issues Is the cover which seems very flimsy and substandard, height of the book is also quite short so the font size is also smaller

quality of the books are too good No creases at all, Even product was delivered on time, Totally satisfied.