Customer Reviews
Great for Open University students - By: S. Thuery, 03 Jul 2007 
Those of you studying A210 "Approaching Literature" would do well to buy this edition (based on the 1818 Frankenstein), rather than loose your time on the York Notes (1831 version). The contemporary critics, commentaries & essays make up for half the book already, & this is great primary source material for essay writing. Highly recommended.
"Cursed, cursed creator." - By: B. Chandler, 10 Dec 2006 
Victor grew up reading the works of Paracelsus, Agrippa, & Albertus Magnus, the alchemists of the time. Tossin a little natural philosophy (sciences) & you have the making of a monster. Or at least a being that after being spurned for looking ugly becomes ugly. So for revenge the creature decides unless Victor makes another (female this time) creature, that Victor will also suffer the loss of friends & relatives. What is victor to do? Bow to the wishes & needs of his creation? Or challenge it to the death? What would you do?
Although the concept of the monster is good, & the conflicts of the story well thought out, Shelly suffers from the writing style of the time. Many people do not finish the book as the language is stilted & verbose for example when was the last time you said, "Little did I then expect the calamity that wasin a few moments to overwhelm me & extinguishin horror & despair all fear of ignominy of death."
Much of the book seems like travel log filler. More time describing the surroundings of Europe than the reason for traveling or just traveling. Many writers use traveling to reflect time passing or the character growingin stature or knowledge. In this story they just travel a lot.
This book is definitely worth plodding through for moviegoers. The record needs to be set strait. First shock is that the creator is named Victor Frankenstein; the creature is just "monster" not Frankenstein. And it is Victor that is backwards which addedin him doing the impossible by not knowing any better. The monster is well readin "Sorrows of a Young Werther," "Paradise Lost," & Plutarch's "Lives." The debate (mixed with a few murders) rages on as to whether the monster was doing evil because of his nature or because he was spurned?
Great edition, helpful essays! - By: babybat@quentincrisp.com, 12 Nov 2001 
As I'm sure most of you know the story of Frankenstein, I'd just like to say a few words about the essays. This is a great edition for students, as you can read both modern responses to the text & those from Shelley's contemporaries. I found the essays on feminist & psychoanalytical responses invaluable; the commentary on the text is top-quality. I know it''s an expensive edition, but trust me, it's worth it!
