Frankenstein

In my opinion, Penguin English Library editions are always very good.The negative point about the product that I received is that there is a big, ugly fold/crease on the paperback cover of the book. Which makes me think that this is a used book, rather than brand new.

I love the cover and the printing of this book it’s a wonderful addition to my collection.

NOTE: THIS REVIEW IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE 2020 EDITION OF "FRANKENSTEIN" WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY BERNIE WRIGHTSON, AND DOES NOT REFER TO ANY OTHER EDITIONBernie Wrightson could well be Exhibit 1 if you were making the case for the history of American comics as being characterised by the enormous superiority of their artists over the stories they illustrated. Thankfully, in producing illustrations for "Frankenstein", the foundational text for most modern horror and science fiction, he found a project commensurate with his talents. The illustrations he produced were stunning, and all recognisably Wrightson: stylish, imaginative, atmospheric, simultaneously modern and yet consistent with the period (1818) when the novel first appeared, and technically superb.There have apparently been four editions of Bernie Wrightson's "Frankenstein", including this one. The consensus seems to be that the previous editions were all superior to this, due to substantially larger page size and better print quality. Unfortunately, they're all out of print, almost impossible to find, and command eye-watering prizes.For those of us who missed out on the previous editions, this one will have to do for now. And, despite what other reviews say, it's not a BAD book. It just could have been better. It's obvious the illustrations would look better at a larger scale, and some detail is clearly lost in the reproduction, a situation reflects poorly on the publisher. But the greatness of the illustrations is still apparent, and they are, even in this reduced and impaired format, an absolute joy to look at. I would love to have them in a better quality edition, but I'd also rather have them in this edition than not have them at all, and, until I can find an acceptably priced copy of an earlier edition, this will suffice. And I'm not holding my breath over that acceptably priced copy turning up.As well as the full text of the novel (including Mary Shelley's introduction to the 1831 edition), this edition contains an amusing but unenlightening preface by Stephen King, and some general notes on the early 19th century which could have been cribbed from a GCSE crammer. The production values are good, with a robust hard binding and good quality white paper. For what you get - notwithstanding things could and should have been better - the price isn't excessive.So I'm hanging on to it for now. But I'll be like a greyhound out of the traps the second I catch sight of a superior edition at a reasonable price.

Shelley’s novel is transgressive in its content, and more transgressive in its nature – written by a female (at age 19!) under a pseudonym to penetrate the public approval. This novel explores human emotions, good and bad, in response to the ‘Other’ in true gothic fashion. The grunting, green-faced, bolt-bearing monster depicted by film and media is a pale imitation of Shelley’s masterpiece – but the original is a 'blue-print' for all monster creations. Despite being a cautionary tale on how nature, which is essentially good, can be corrupted by ill treatment – contemporary depictions have departed from the original characterization of an extremely well-spoken monster with immense speed and grace.PLOT (4.5/5)An intelligent and ambitious young student indulges a moment of thoughtless scientific passion and creates life. Horrified at his creation, Victor Frankenstein shuns the creature and attempts to discard it from his life and thoughts. The creature, however, is lost in an unkind world and seeks affection, and upon rejection then seeks revenge.STUDENT NOTES (5/5)+ Although many reviewers note The York Notes version usefulness at GCSE, I found in instrumental at helping me receive an A* at A-Level as well:a) The (character, theme and quotation) analysis is brilliant, clear and precise.b) The exam questions, key quotations and chapter summaries were invaluablec) The responses to the text, both modern and those from Shelley's contemporaries are invaluable (especially the feminist and psychoanalytical essays).CHARACTERS (5/5)+ Both main characters are easy to empathise with despite being completely at heads – both Victor (the ambitious scientist who realises his overreach and attempts to redeem himself) and the monster (whose fragile psyche is birthed from rejection)STYLE (4/5)+ The original, but nevertheless still one of the most remarkable science fiction stories ever written, its relevance persists today as scientific discovery journeys further than before into ethical ambiguity (GM food, AI, cloning) and discrimination still exists in all its forms.+ Typically Romantic and beautifully descriptive prose, particularly regarding the natural world.- The book begins very slowly with excessive detail, and the epistolary form makes it hard to convey any sense of suspense. But if you persist despite this you will be drawn in to Shelley's world.

I'm not sure it's worth my reviewing the story in this book, since everyone is so familiar with it. But if you haven't actually read this original version then it is well worth doing so, if you can cope with the beautiful classic writing style.The main reason I wanted to do this review was to let you know just how nice this book is physically.The format is a Flexibound Edition by Barnes & Noble. It's basically a faux leather-bound cover. Obviously not real leather, it is a soft feel plastic or rubber which is marginally flexible in the hand.The first and last pages are backed in the old-world style using frantically patterned end papers.The page edges are colour sprayed to complement the cover.There is also a page marking ribbon.Even the relatively thick paper stock has slightly off white colouring and lends itself to the feel of an old original collectable.In short, for the incredibly low retail price of this book you get an absolutely stunning edition, which looks fantastic on the shelf in a collected set and feels great in the hand as you read. Barnes and Noble do a nice collection in this format. Just search for (Barnes Noble Flexibound editions) on Amazon.

No, I didn't try to read it literally.I can overlook the overblown style `... and her countenance expressed all those bad qualities which often characterise that class.' ` .. very soon, will death extinguish these throbbings, and relieve me from the mighty weight of anguish that bears me to the dust; ' That is presumably a feature of the period.However ,- the dear lady has not the least idea of any scientific field. Putting together the ca. 80 kilos of organic material for a human being seems to involve simply `chemical instruments'. (Oh, please!)- Victor creates his creature, which then disappears from the lab and V. seems to be totally unconcerned about where it is/ what it is doing for two years. Instead, we get a description of the landscape.- Creature observes a family in a woodland cottage and in less than a year manages to pick up quite erudite speech, writing and an encyclopedia knowledge.- Creature kills V's brother and a girl is blamed, tried, accused and hanged. V is distraught during the trial but then pootles off with no further concern (until he starts listing the murders).- V is on a boat at night and drifts off to sleep with the gentle swell. By morning he is in Ireland. He started off on the Orkney islands. (That's pretty good going!!) etc.I had heard years ago the reason why Mary Shelly wrote this novel - she lived in a time of rapid technological development and this felt like a force let loose on the world, out of man's control. I can understand the novel on that level and feel that this interpretation is more than valid in our times. Whether it really was the case for Shelly I actually doubt - she wrote the book decades before the Industrial Revolution.I would add to that - it starts with man playing God without even thinking the development through.What is also very clear from the novel and an idea/ message that I am firmly convinced of:- rejection generates fear which generates agression.The creature tells V. that several times but V. can't see it. This chain is also very evident in our society.

Review of the illustrated hardback with illustrations by Bernie WrightsonReally good and affordable way to experience Bernie Wrightson's work. The story was less important to me as I had read it before and its in the public domain anyway but this is the first time the illustrated version has been available. They are good prints but although not as detailed as the larger ones (9" by 12") in the limited edition book they are still very enjoyable. The artwork with its sense of the period, the drama and expressive line work make owning a hardback book really worthwhile. For the price 5/5Hopefully the publisher can do a facsimile of the limited edition (now hard to get and very expensive) with the artwork rendered in all its full glory.