Frankenstein

Written by Mary Shelley in response to a challenge from friends when she was only eighteen years old, Frankenstein is a thrilling masterpiece about a man whose hunger to create life drives him to build a monster, and ultimately results in his own ruin. A deeply thoughtful study of the ethical dilemmas that knowledge can bring to humankind, Frankenstein also provides a portrait of modern science in Europe almost two centuries ago – a time when it seemed that anything was possible. This edition of the enduringly popular tale, with its striking illustrations and extended captions unique to the Whole Story series, provides the background information modern readers could otherwise access only though a broad range of supplemental research. This distinctive approach places Frankenstein – first published in 1818 – within the context of its era, bringing it vividly to life. A rich new reading experience is the result: readers can enjoy and understand the story in a way as close as possible to that of audiences when Mary Shelley wrote it.