Frankenstein 1886

5b Mary Shelley, edited and with an introduction by Rev. Hugh Reginald Haweis. London 1886.

Notes

Frankenstein was conceived during the summer of 1816, when Mary Shelley and her companions, including her future husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, spent time in a villa near Lake Geneva, Switzerland. This summer, often referred to as the "Year Without a Summer" due to volcanic eruptions that caused worldwide climate disruptions, was unusually cold and rainy. In an attempt to pass the time, Lord Byron proposed that each of them write a ghost story. It was during this challenge that Mary Shelley began to develop the idea for Frankenstein, which she later expanded into a novel. The story emerged from her deep reflections on the boundaries of human knowledge, the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition, and the nature of life and death.

Mary Shelley was born in 1797 to two influential figures: philosopher William Godwin and feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft. After her mother’s death shortly after her birth, she was raised by her father, who encouraged her intellectual development. Shelley's life was marked by personal tragedy, including the death of her first child and the eventual drowning of her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley. These experiences of loss and grief significantly influenced her writing, leading her to explore themes of creation, mortality, and the human condition in her works. Shelley's Frankenstein became her most famous work, although she also wrote novels, short stories, essays, and travelogues. Despite facing many personal challenges and societal pressures as a woman writer in the 19th century, she carved a path for herself as a significant literary figure.

Frankenstein tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who becomes obsessed with creating life. He successfully animates a creature made from body parts, but when the creature comes to life, Victor is horrified by its monstrous appearance and abandons it. The creature, rejected and isolated by society, becomes vengeful and seeks out its creator, leading to a tragic cycle of violence. The novel explores profound questions about creation, responsibility, and the ethical boundaries of scientific progress. It also delves into themes of alienation, the consequences of playing God, and the dangers of unchecked ambition. Frankenstein is often considered one of the earliest works of science fiction and a foundational text for gothic literature, with its themes continuing to resonate in discussions about technology and humanity.

Description

Cloth bound octavo hard cover with red lettering and illustrations on the upper board with red lettering on the lower board. Original binding and interior text including advertisements. Minimal warping to the upper board. Some gray staining to the boards. Sun-fading to the spine. Some cracking to the hinge.