Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus (Penguin Classics)
by Mary Shelley, Maurice Hindle | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0140433627 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 0140433627 Global Overview for this book
Registered by AbPh of Oxford, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on 5/27/2005
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
Looking forward to this. It's such an interesting story.
It was interesting to finally get round to reading such a famous, important book and to compare the real thing with my perception of it.
Frankenstein is a good and not aprticularly challenging read. It pulled me along in that I knew more or less what would happen (the clues are given to the reader) but I had a morbid desire to read on and have my fears confirmed.
The science makes no sense at al when considered through modern eyes but Shelley was writing at a time when a great interest was taken in discovering the 'life force', and trying to identify what it is that first gives life. The author's preface is espcially illuminating on this point (note the reference to Erasmus Darwin).
I wouldn't worry to much about all that though. The lessons of the story are plain. Don't just go persuing your intellectual desires and satisfying your scientific curiosity without being wary of the consequences of what you do. Also, the monster is initially friendly and good natured but he is turned nasty because he is lonely and all humans, including his maker, are revolted by and hostile to him.
A thought provoking and interesting tale and as I have another copy I will no doubt re-read one day.
By the way: this edition includes in the appendices Polidori's 'The Vampyre' and Byron's 'A Fragment', both supposedly dating to that famous occasion when 'Frankenstein', the novel, was conceived.
Frankenstein is a good and not aprticularly challenging read. It pulled me along in that I knew more or less what would happen (the clues are given to the reader) but I had a morbid desire to read on and have my fears confirmed.
The science makes no sense at al when considered through modern eyes but Shelley was writing at a time when a great interest was taken in discovering the 'life force', and trying to identify what it is that first gives life. The author's preface is espcially illuminating on this point (note the reference to Erasmus Darwin).
I wouldn't worry to much about all that though. The lessons of the story are plain. Don't just go persuing your intellectual desires and satisfying your scientific curiosity without being wary of the consequences of what you do. Also, the monster is initially friendly and good natured but he is turned nasty because he is lonely and all humans, including his maker, are revolted by and hostile to him.
A thought provoking and interesting tale and as I have another copy I will no doubt re-read one day.
By the way: this edition includes in the appendices Polidori's 'The Vampyre' and Byron's 'A Fragment', both supposedly dating to that famous occasion when 'Frankenstein', the novel, was conceived.
Journal Entry 3 by AbPh at Costa Coffee in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire United Kingdom on Friday, November 9, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (11/10/2007 UTC) at Costa Coffee in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
I will be in Stratford-Upon-Avon on Saturday 10th November and will be releasing this book. I will be in Costa coffee some time in the morning.
I will be in Stratford-Upon-Avon on Saturday 10th November and will be releasing this book. I will be in Costa coffee some time in the morning.