Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus (Annotated): A Historical and Literary Edition

Frankenstein Annotated Edition

Mary Shelley’s Original 1818 Text with Notes

This Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus annotated edition presents Mary Shelley’s original 1818 text with more than 70 original annotations exploring the history, science, culture, and literary world behind her classic Gothic masterpiece.

Victor Frankenstein’s pursuit of the secret of life leads to creation, abandonment, and devastating consequences. Far removed from the monster of popular culture, Shelley’s original novel is a deeply human exploration of ambition, responsibility, isolation, friendship, and the consequences of creation.

More than 70 original annotations by T. S. Causley illuminate the scientific discoveries, real places, literary influences, cultural ideas, and historical world that shaped Shelley’s imagination. Historical and literary commentary explores the Romantic age, the science behind Victor’s experiments, and the landscapes and ideas that carry the novel from Geneva to the Arctic.

Inside This Annotated Edition

• More than 70 original annotations by T. S. Causley
• Mary Shelley’s complete original 1818 text
• Historical and cultural context for the Romantic age
• Context for science, medicine, discovery, and the ideas behind Victor’s experiments
• Literary commentary on Shelley’s influences, allusions, themes, and Gothic traditions
• Original editorial introduction
• Curated further reading