The Modern Prometheus: The 1818 Text by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
This famous work is the most celebrated horror story ever written. It tells the tragic tale of Victor Frankenstein, a young student of natural philosophy, who discovers the secret of life. Obsessed, he creates a being from dead body parts, with ominous consequences.
Summary
In the shadow of moonlight, Victor Frankenstein views the monster he has brought forth. His terrifying Creation is driven by a quest for knowledge and power, with devastating impact on his family and surroundings.
Originally written by Mary Shelley at the age of eighteen, this masterpiece combines elements of gothic literature with a profound warning about the risks of technological progress.
This edition, based on the original 1818 text and published to mark the 200th anniversary, places the book in its intellectual context and highlights the enduring influence of this most celebrated horror story on science and ethics.
Product information
- Author: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Series: Oxford World's Classics
- Publication date: 2019-10-24
- Number of pages: 304
- ISBN: 9780198840824
- Theme: Classic fiction: literary and general
- BISAC: FICTION / Classics
About the author
Nick Groom is Professor of English at the University of Exeter and has published several major works on gothic literature and English literature, including editions of classic texts for Oxford World's Classics.