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Penguin English Library Frankenstein (UK) — Gothic

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Penguin English Library Frankenstein (UK)

Name: Penguin English Library Frankenstein (UK)
Price: 11.25 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9780141198965

✍️ Mary Shelley

Reader Score

4.5

(4 reviews)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Mary Shelley's 1818 novel about a scientist who creates life from dead bodies.

This edition contains the full text of Mary Shelley's debut novel. It follows Victor Frankenstein, a young researcher who defies natural laws by assembling a living being from corpse parts. The resulting creature is intelligent but causes widespread death. The narrative structure starts with a specific date and command to write. Shelley published the first version anonymously in London before revealing her authorship in Paris. The Penguin English Library version provides a clean, accessible text for contemporary audiences.

Key Themes

Frankenstein's monster Victor Frankenstein scientific experiment

Literary Context

Mary Shelley began writing at age eighteen. The first edition appeared anonymously in London on January 1, 1818. Her name appeared in the second edition published in Paris in 1821. The work is a foundational text of Gothic and supernatural fiction.

Mary Shelley

📚 all books by this author (292) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Bram Stoker · H.P. Lovecraft

🏚️

Gothic

🏛 Penguin Classic 📅 2012 📖 250 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780141198965

📚 This Book in Collections

👹 Monsters & Creature Features

📝 Description: Penguin English Library Frankenstein (UK)

Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus as an eighteen-year-old, with the first edition appearing anonymously in London on January 1, 1818. This Penguin English Library edition presents that original text for modern readers. Victor Frankenstein is a young scientist who steals body parts from graves to build a new life. His creation becomes a sapient being, yet it brings only murder and ruin. The narrative begins with the line, July 24: Write my story. Shelley added her name to the second edition published in Paris in 1821. This volume suits readers interested in Gothic fiction and supernatural themes. It appeals to those who study the origins of science fiction or analyze character studies of Victor Frankenstein and his monster. The book does not suit readers seeking lighthearted entertainment or simple moral tales, as the content involves grave robbing and destruction. The Penguin Classic edition offers a reliable text for academic or personal study. The story draws on traditions of Gothic literature and explores the consequences of unchecked ambition. It remains a key work in the canon of English fiction. Readers will find a complete account of the scientist's hubris and the creature's suffering. The text is available as a 250-page paperback with ISBN 9780141198965.

💎 Our verdict on Penguin English Library Frankenstein (UK)

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

It is strictly for readers willing to confront grave robbing, destruction, and psychological depth. It does not suit those seeking lighthearted entertainment or simple moral tales, as the content involves widespread death and ruin caused by an intelligent but tragic figure. The narrative structure, beginning with a command to write, demands attention to its Gothic traditions. While the 250-page paperback is accessible, the tone is heavy and philosophical. This is not for casual readers expecting quick thrills; it is for those analyzing character studies or the intersection of science and horror in early 19th-century literature.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This volume suits readers interested in Gothic fiction and supernatural themes, particularly those who study the origins of science fiction or analyze character studies of Victor Frankenstein and his monster. It appeals to individuals seeking a complete account of a scientist's hubris and the resulting creature's suffering. The Penguin English Library edition provides a clean, accessible text for contemporary audiences, making it ideal for academic or personal study. Readers will gain insight into the consequences of unchecked ambition and the exploration of life from death. It is an essential purchase for those analyzing the canon of English fiction and the evolution of horror narratives that challenge natural laws.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Seekers of Gothic dread and scholars of literary origins will cherish this pristine 1818 text. If you crave lighthearted entertainment or simplistic moralizing, look elsewhere; this tale demands engagement with grave robbing and profound ruin.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 4 reviews

Laura E.

January 29, 2026

Not for the squeamish

Took a chance on it after reading the description here. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. The prose is clean and the scares land because the characters feel real. The cover feels thinner than expected. Good, with the caveats above.

Victor S.

November 2, 2025

A modern classic

Been meaning to get this one for a while. The prose is clean and the scares land because the characters feel real. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on.

Tom H.

October 28, 2025

Finally got around to ordering this. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. The atmosphere builds slowly and then does not let go. Great value for what you get.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this volume faithfully reproduces the anonymous 1818 London edition, preserving her earliest, most intense narrative voice before she added her name and made changes for the 1831 publication.

The text involves grave robbing, murder, and psychological ruin. It is a dark philosophical tragedy, not intended for those seeking comfort or simple entertainment.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Born from Shelley’s youthful genius during the legendary Geneva ghost-story contests, this edition preserves the original London manuscript before later revisions softened its edges. It stands as the foundational pillar of science fiction, bridging Enlightenment rationalism with Gothic terror. By presenting the unadulterated first vision, it captures the raw, unchecked ambition that forever altered the literary landscape.