Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein is an 1818 novel by Mary Shelley that was republished in 1831 in a more widely read edition. It is often considered to be the first science fiction novel because of how it combines real scientific research with some speculative elements. The novel also has elements of the horror and gothic genres. Shelley originally wrote the novel as part of a friendly competition to see who could write the best scary story. Mary's husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, Romantic poet Lord Byron, and Byron's doctor John Polidori were the other authors included in the competition. Polidori notably wrote a novella called The Vampyre, which was one of the first examples of vampire fiction ever written. Shelley's novel is by far the most famous and enduring piece of writing to come from that competition, and it is still widely read today.
FULL DRAMATIZED AUDIOBOOK
FULL DRAMATIZED AUDIOBOOK
(CHAPTER BY CHAPTER PLAYLIST)
Frankenstein is an 1818 novel by Mary Shelley that was republished in 1831 in a more widely read edition. It is often considered to be the first science fiction novel because of how it combines real scientific research with some speculative elements. The novel also has elements of the horror and gothic genres. Shelley originally wrote the novel as part of a friendly competition to see who could write the best scary story. Mary's husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, Romantic poet Lord Byron, and Byron's doctor John Polidori were the other authors included in the competition. Polidori notably wrote a novella called The Vampyre, which was one of the first examples of vampire fiction ever written. Shelley's novel is by far the most famous and enduring piece of writing to come from that competition, and it is still widely read today.
Frankenstein Summary
Frankenstein opens with a sailor named Robert Walton writing letters to his sister about his voyage to the North Pole. While in the Arctic, Walton finds Victor Frankenstein who has been trying to travel across the ice using a dogsled but has grown weak and sick. Victor tells Walton his life story, starting with his upbringing in Geneva and his choice to attend medical school.
At medical school, Frankenstein became obsessed with the idea of life and death and eventually figured out how to create life from death by using electricity to reanimate dead tissue. He spent many months creating a being using this method. It worked one night, and he managed to bring his creation to life. When he saw the creature move, however, he was horrified by how monstrous it looked, and he abandoned the being before falling into a months-long fever. When he recovered, Victor learns that his younger brother William had been murdered by his creature, and an innocent woman was executed for the crime.
During a walk in the mountains, Victor encountered his creature. The monster told Victor about what had happened since his abandonment. He talked about learning to survive on his own and spending many months living in a lean-to beside a family's house. He tried to connect with the family members, but they, like Victor, shunned him. He encountered William and murdered him when William responded to him with fear as well. The creature, who understands that he will never be accepted by human society, asks Victor to create a female companion for him. Victor reluctantly agrees.
When the female creature is almost complete, Victor suddenly changed his mind, fearing what might happen if his creature should reproduce. He destroys his new creation, and the monster, infuriated, vows revenge. In his anger, he killed both Victor's friend, Henry Clerval, and Victor's bride, Elizabeth. Victor began to track his creature so that he could get revenge and followed him all the way to the Arctic.
However, he dies on board Walton's ship. Shortly thereafter, the monster arrives. Though he hates Victor, he still mourns his death. The monster tells Walton that he is going out onto the ice to die so that his suffering can end.
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