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Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus (Uncensored 1818 Edition - Wisehouse Classics) (Uncensored 1818)
Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus (Uncensored 1818 Edition - Wisehouse Classics) (Uncensored 1818) | Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
23 posts | 77 read | 17 to read
This is the Uncensored 1818 Edition FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS, a novel written by the English author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley about the young science student Victor Frankenstein, who creates a grotesque but sentient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty. The first edition was published anonymously in London in 1818. Shelley's name appears on the second edition, published in France in 1823. Shelley had travelled through Europe in 1814, journeying along the river Rhine in Germany with a stop in Gernsheim which is just 17 km away from Frankenstein Castle, where, two centuries before, an alchemist was engaged in experiments. Later, she travelled in the region of Geneva (Switzerland)-where much of the story takes place-and the topic of galvanism and other similar occult ideas were themes of conversation among her companions, particularly her lover and future husband, Percy Shelley. Mary, Percy, Lord Byron, and John Polidori decided to have a competition to see who could write the best horror story. After thinking for days, Shelley dreamt about a scientist who created life and was horrified by what he had made; her dream later evolved into the novel's story. Shelley completed her writing in May 1817, and Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus was first published on 11 March 1818 by the small London publishing house of Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones. The second edition of Frankenstein was published on 11 August 1822 in two volumes (by G. and W. B. Whittaker) following the success of the stage play Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein by Richard Brinsley Peake; this edition credited Mary Shelley as the author. On 31 October 1831, the first "popular" edition in one volume appeared, published by Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley. This edition was heavily revised by Mary Shelley, partially because of pressure to make the story more conservative, and included a new, longer preface by her, presenting a somewhat embellished version of the genesis of the story. This edition tends to be the one most widely read now, although editions containing the original 1818 text are still published. Many scholars prefer the 1818 text, arguing that it preserves the spirit of Shelley's original publication
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TracyReadsBooks
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Last time it was fantasy, & now it‘s science fiction & while the fantasy list had what I would consider both hits & misses, on balance I liked it a whole lot more than this list which has some glaring omissions & too many old dead dudes. (Plus several authors appear more than once—just pick one & move on please) I could argue against much of this list, which uses a really expansive definition of the genre, but I do agree about the tagged book.

vivastory I think this is a fairly good list, but I think the inclusion of The Stand is questionable as sci-fi. 2y
TracyReadsBooks @vivastory Yeah, I agree. That‘s a bit of a reach. 2y
24 likes2 comments
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jenniferw88
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Mehso-so

4 ⭐

#newyearwhodis @tenar @monalyisha

A re-read, but still enjoyable.

AkashaVampie Did they really play in it??? Wow 2y
mom2bugnbee @akashavampire They switched roles through their run! It was amazing. The National Theatre in England released pro shots of the performances on YouTube during the pandemic, but I'm not sure if they're still available. 2y
tenar Oh my gosh, I would have loved to see that stage show! Glad you enjoyed the reread. Did you think anything different about it this go through? 2y
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jenniferw88 @tenar I think I saw more of Shelley's life in Victor's story this time round, but this may be due to this book: 2y
tenar That‘s neat! I love learning about an author and finding them in their work. Would you recommend that biography? 2y
jenniferw88 @tenar if you'd asked that before the re-read, I'd have said no, BUT I actually think it brought somehing to it, so I'd say yes now 😂! In @Cinfhen 's terms I'd say it was a #borrownotbuy 😂 - there's no reason to push it up the #tbrpile. 2y
Cinfhen Haha 😂 thanks for crediting me xxx 2y
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MayJasper
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Pickpick

I am so glad I read this as it transpired what I thought I knew about this book was wrong. It takes you through a gamut of emotions, amazement at Mary Shelley's imagination, sympathy and antipathy and vice versa towards the protagonists. I liked the trustworthy narrator. When it came down to Frankenstein and his creature, they both did terrible things but in the end my sympathies were for the creature.

JazzFeathers I read it years ago and was surprised of how modern the story sounded. 3y
Bits Great review! You described my reading experience exactly! 😃 Such a great book! 3y
MayJasper @Bits great minds think alike! 😉 3y
MayJasper @JazzFeathers I know what you mean! Several times I thought wow that sounds like now. 3y
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Bookish_Gal
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Pickpick

This is one of those classics that everyone knows the tale, but not the story. I thought I knew the tale simply of Frankenstein bring a creature back to life who haunts him for abandoning him. Yet I find this extraordinary story about what it means to be human, and have humanity. Love versus vengeance. I especially liked this final piece of the captain telling the creature (I liked how he is never named a monster) that he was also in the wrong

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Bookish_Gal
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The pain coming off the creature creates such turmoil with Victors hatred back. All he wants is a partner, someone who he can love like every other creature on earth. Why that too much to ask?

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Bookish_Gal
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The emotion in the creatures plea to make friends with the family in the cottage he‘s been watching (stalking a bit) is so tragic. These stories he‘s telling Victor are incredible feats of understanding and intelligence. All he wants us to belong. To be loved. To be accepted. Which all leads back to the comparison of when Victor left him after creating him. I find that connection interesting, yet so well done

MayJasper I have just finished the book. I agree with you. Such tragedy for the creature. No name, just abandoned. His longing for acceptance is so heart wrenching. 3y
7 likes1 comment
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Bookish_Gal
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But is it not a duty to the survivors, that we should refrain from augmenting their happiness by an appearance of immoderate grief? It is also a duty owed to yourself; for excessive sorrow prevents improvement or enjoyment, or even the discharge of daily usefulness, without which no man is fit for society

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Bookish_Gal
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While it is, understandable, a little difficult to keep up with this old style of writing, the story is in such depths. There‘s so much going on that builds into the story. All those years of study, the obsession with returning life, the dismal feel of Victors professors... it all bleeds into the creation of The Creature. I know the story, but being able to read the Original wording almost makes it a brand new story.

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reading_rainbow
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Pickpick

what a sad story. the loneliness and abandonment of the creature was heartbreaking. the deaths produced from Victors shame and neglect of his own creation and of the vengeance and pain of the Monster was sad and unfortunate. i recommend this copy of the novel as it‘s in its original form when first published in 1818 and has a lot of extra information that was really interesting.

25 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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reading_rainbow
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i had to discontinue my Merlin book because the large hardcover was too much for my wrists so i ordered a used paperback and until it comes i‘ve started Mary Shelley‘s Frankenstein and the introduction has gotten me very interested in romanticism, definitely going to be exploring more literature from that era and learning more about the movement itself🌿🌞

Kimberlone The class I took in college about the Romantic period was one of my favorites from my English degree! 4y
reading_rainbow @Kimberlone 🌞💕i just bought a book on it and i can‘t wait to dive into it! 4y
25 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Bookish_Gal
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Put my name on a list to share favorite books and send them out. Got mine out, and received mine today. I have not read Mary Shelley‘s original text. The queen herself. Not a horror fan, but I don‘t think she intended for it to be such. I look forward to reading her writing

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reading_rainbow
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🌿🖤 birthday book spam 🖤🌿

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ferskner
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Revisiting an old favorite.

TheBee My favorite as well!! ♥️♥️♥️ 4y
batsy Mine as well 💜 4y
SamAnne Me too! Forgot how good it is. 4y
ferskner @TheBee @batsy @SamAnne do you guys read the regular version or the 1818 version? I've only ever read the 1818. 4y
81 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Nute
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#QuotsyOct19 - Midnight: It is such a different experience to read this book after watching film adaptations none of which I have seen come anywhere close to the author‘s vision - the contemplation of creation, the relentless pursuit and use of knowledge for purposes both good and evil.
Photo Credit: art.com

TheSpineView Excellant choice! 🖤🖤🖤 4y
54 likes1 comment
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ludodominici
Pickpick

Un classico e come tale ingiudicabile. Molto bella la narrazione e ovviamente la figura del mostro è la migliore, la meglio sfaccettata e la meglio scritta. Da leggere almeno una volta nella vita.

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rachelk
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1. It‘s a blue card that I‘m mailing in the morning.
2. Not sure, but it wasn‘t very many.
3. Milk chocolate with hazelnuts or dark with sea salt.
4. About every three months.
5. I do recommend it — I can hardly believe Shelley wrote Frankenstein 200 years ago when she was only 18/19 years old.

@MinDea #HumpDayPost

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RebL
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A few weeks ago at work someone above me on the food chain sent an angry email implicating me in an unkindness to a thousand people based on mistaken identity. After the air cleared and the truth came out, I still feel on display and wonder how this will affect future interactions. I was reading Frankenstein with my daughter during this period. Glad to have bonded, but this book is antithetical to self care.

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jessinikkip
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Pickpick

As my first time reading the classic, I wished I had started with a different choice to get into the story with. It was a good experience to read this for the first time. I was surprised by the sheer humanity of the "monster".

CoffeeNBooks I really like the different layers of the story as you read from each character's perspective. 6y
jessinikkip Yes I thought that added a lot, to see all the sides. I was surprised to have to admit that with my love of gothic and horror novels, this was my first read of Frankenstein ever! But it was SO GOOD 6y
11 likes2 comments
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jessinikkip
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"Now I am twenty-eight, and am in reality more illiterate than many school-boys of fifteen. It is true that I have thought more...but they want (as the painters call it) keeping; and I greatly need a friend..."

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jessinikkip
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Starting the Frankenstein related books from my TBR: various copies of the novel, the books the monster reads, and other related things. #FrankensteinChallenge

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erzascarletbookgasm
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One of the #female authors whose achievements have often been dismissed, Mary Shelly‘s gothic novel of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is one of the earliest known foray into science fiction in those days. I‘ve only read it in my adult years, and I‘m fascinated by the fact she was only 19 years when she wrote it.
#litsyclassics #maylovesclassics

wanderinglynn 👍🏻 She was an amazing author. (edited) 6y
readordierachel Great choice! And that's a great edition too. 6y
batsy 🙌🏽 Love this book and need that edition 🖤 6y
Ranchan I keep forgetting it's science fiction as well; it's firmly cemented itself in my memory as a Gothic novel! 6y
Bambolina_81 This is a fantastic read. Hard to believe it's 200yrs old! 6y
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batsy
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Congratulations on your Litsy milestone @readinginthedark and thank you for this giveaway 💜 #TBRforthewin

readinginthedark Thanks! Nice choices! 6y
batsy @readinginthedark Thank YOU for the opportunity! 😊 Hope you're feeling better and the stomach ache is gone. 6y
readinginthedark It is, thank you. I‘ve been getting them off and on lately due to some diet changes, I think. It‘s an adjustment. 😕 But I was feeling better today! 6y
batsy @readinginthedark Glad to hear that! 6y
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