The Original Frankenstein

Working from the earliest surviving draft of Frankenstein, Charles E. Robinson presents two versions of the classic novelas Mary Shelley originally wrote it and a subsequent version clearly indicating Percy Shelleys amendments and contributions. For the first time we can hear Marys sole voice, which is colloquial, fast-paced, and sounds more modern to a contemporary reader. We can also see for the first time the extent of Percy Shelleys contributionsome 5,000 words out of 72,000and his stylistic and thematic changes. His occasionally florid prose is in marked contrast to the directness of Marys writing. Interesting, too, are Percys suggestions, which humanize the monster, thus shaping many of the major themes of the novel as we read it today. In these two versions of Frankenstein we have an exciting new view of one of literature s greatest works.