FRANKENSTEIN, publication of Mary Shelley's manuscript

[herbertwest]

FRANKENSTEIN is a litterature classic, one that Steve's has written introduction to a couple of times. Within the omnibus gathering "Dracula", "Frankenstein" & "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" back in 78 if i remember correctly, as well as in the Marvel publication (1983) with Bernie Wrightson's introduction.

In this last publication, Steve wrote a lengthy introduction in which he mentions that : "Frankenstein really is a good novel, both scary and thoughtful.”"



But did you know that a french publisher released a reproduction of Mary Shelley's original manuscript, with all her notes and editing!


Details of the book :
Frankenstein: Mary Shelley's manuscript (Deluxe limited edition)

 

[mal]

Cool book, thanks. Hopefully it'll be reproduced more cheaply down the road, then I'll have a shot.

 

[skimom2]

Wouldn't that be a treat to read? I still want to read the stripped down version--I didn't even know such a thing existed until muskrat talked about it! I'm guessing some of the preachy stuff is absent, but I don't know for sure. It's a really good story, at its core.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....awesome sauce!......

 

[muskrat]

Wouldn't that be a treat to read? I still want to read the stripped down version--I didn't even know such a thing existed until muskrat talked about it! I'm guessing some of the preachy stuff is absent, but I don't know for sure. It's a really good story, at its core.

Oh yeah, Mary's version is stripped down and faster paced. Got a more modern feel.

 

[GNTLGNT]

 

[skimom2]

Oh yeah, Mary's version is stripped down and faster paced. Got a more modern feel.

I want to find a copy. Thanks for talking about it, or I would have never known

 

[Coolallosaurus]

What a gorgeous text! Thank you for sharing. I have a friend who is writing her dissertation on Frankenstein who would love this!
There used to be a website that let you juxtapose MWS's original 1816 manuscript with the 1818 and 1831 editions and editorial notes made by Percy and MWS to see how everything changed. I can't find it (it maybe got taken down due to copyright issues with the archive). It was an awesome resource, though. If I find it I'll post. It's amazing how relevant Frankenstein remains and how the Creature has mutated throughout time and popular culture.

 

[Coolallosaurus]

The archive is still online! Thank goodness for friends who eat, sleep, and breathe Frankenstein and have all resources at their fingertips. Yay also for open access digital scholarship!!!!!!
Here's the link to the digital archive which houses MWS's work (along with manuscripts by her mother [a famous author in her own right], father, and Percy): Shelley-Godwin Archive
Here's a link to the specific page with the Frankenstein manuscript as it evolved from MWS's first 1816 draft: Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus
The archivists have (mercifully) transcribed the handwriting so you have the choice to read either MSW's original script or a typed version that is kinder on the eyes.