One of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World' The Penguin English Library Edition of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 'Never did I behold a vision so horrible as his face, of such loathsome, yet appalling hideousness' A twisted, upside-down creation myth, Mary Shelley's chilling Gothic tale lays bare the dark side of science, and the horror within us all. It tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, who plunders graveyards to create a new being from the bodies of the dead - but whose botched creature causes nothing but murder and destruction. Written after a nightmare when its author was only eighteen, Frankenstein gave birth to the modern science fiction novel. The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley was an English novelist, best known for her Gothic novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," published in 1818. She was born in 1797 and was the daughter of political philosopher William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. Shelley's literary style is characterized by its exploration of existential themes, the consequences of scientific experimentation, and the complexities of human nature. "Frankenstein" is considered a seminal work of science fiction and has had a lasting impact on the genre, inspiring countless adaptations and interpretations. Shelley's other notable works include "The Last Man" and "Mathilda." Her contributions to literature have solidified her as one of the most important figures in the Gothic literary tradition.