Frankenstein

Written by Mary Shelley

Narrated by Caden Vaughn Clegg

Told in the form of a series of letters ‘Frankenstein’ follows a young and charismatic Victor Frankenstein as he attempts to make his mark on the world of science. Taking a number of body parts from various corpses, he brings a monstrous creation to life which instead of being his crowning glory, terrifies him. The nameless monster escapes from his lab, taking many innocent lives before Frankenstein can track it down again. Shelley took inspiration from her trips through Germany and the legends of Castle Frankenstein, where an allusive alchemist engaged in dark experiments two centuries before. It is a thrilling novel that has inspired a whole genre of horror, as well as countless films adaptations, most recently ‘Victor Frankenstein’ starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe.

Mary Shelley (1797-1851) was an English author of science fiction, historical fiction and travel writing who is best known for her classic novel ‘Frankenstein’ (1818). Shelley conceived of the idea for the novel at the age of eighteen when she was on holiday in Switzerland with Lord Byron and John William Polidori. Following the death of her husband and two children she returned to England with her only surviving son, to dedicate herself to his upbringing and writing professionally. She wrote numerous works in this time such as the apocalyptic novel ‘The Last Man’ (1826) and the historical fiction tale ‘Valperga’ (1823).

• Language: English
• Publisher: SAGA Egmont
• Release date: Nov 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9789176392225

Mary Shelley

Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin was born in 1797, the daughter of two of the leading radical writers of the age. Her mother died just days after her birth and she was educated at home by her father and encouraged in literary pursuits. She eloped with and subsequently married the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, but their life together was full of hardship. The couple were ruined by disapproving parents and Mary lost three of her four children. Although its subject matter was extremely dark, her first novel Frankenstein (1818) was an instant sensation. Subsequent works such as Mathilda (1819), Valperga (1823) and The Last Man (1826) were less successful but are now finally receiving the critical acclaim that they deserve.