Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Annotated) : Hardcover Book

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley (1797-1851) that tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a hideous sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition was published anonymously in London on 1 January 1818, when she was 20.[2] Her name first appeared in the second edition published in Paris in 1821.

Shelley travelled through Europe in 1815 along the river Rhine in Germany stopping in Gernsheim, 17 kilometres (11 mi) away from Frankenstein Castle, where two centuries before, an alchemist engaged in experiments.She then journeyed to the region of Geneva, Switzerland, where much of the story takes place. The topic of galvanism and occult ideas were themes of conversation among her companions, particularly her lover and future husband Percy B. Shelley. Mary, Percy and Lord Byron had a competition to see who could write the best horror story. After thinking for days, Shelley dreamt about a scientist who created life and was horrified by what he had made, inspiring the novel.

Here is the complete text of the novel with the followings annotations:

* Historical context 

Shelley exposes the reality that Frankenstein isn't simply an easy tale of horror, but a narrative of social issues during the period of 19th century - the period of progress, knowledge growth, and personal awareness. 

*literary analysis

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley makes use of figurative language in the forms of personification, symbolism, metaphor and simile.

Along with the Gothic elements, Frankenstein also introduces the science fiction genre, and a lot of critics have cited it as among the very first examples of the genre.

* Quotes:

"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."

- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Frankenstein) 

"Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful."

- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Frankenstein) 

*Biographical Information:

Fast Facts: Mary Shelley

Full Name: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (nee Godwin)

Known For: Prolific 19th-century writer whose novel 'Frankenstein' pioneered the science fiction genre

Born: August 30, 1797 in Somers Town, London, England

Parents: Mary Wollstonecraft, William Godwin

Died: February 1, 1851, Chester Square, London, England

Selected Works: History of a Six Weeks' Tour (1817), Frankenstein (1818), Posthumous Poems of Percy Bysshe Shelley (1824), The Last Man (1826), Lives of the Most Eminent Literary and Scientific Men (1835-39)

Spouse: Percy Bysshe Shelley

Children: William Shelley, Clara Everina Shelley, Percy Florence Shelley

Notable Quote: "Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos."

*The Top Book's Of Mary Shelley:

8 ) Proserpine.

7 ) Mathilda.

6 ) Falkner. A Novel.

5 ) The Last Man.

3 ) Lodore.

3 ) Maurice; or, The Fisher's Cot.

2 ) Valperga: Or, the Life and Adventures of Castruccio, Prince of Lucca.

1 ) Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus