Frankenstein

Summary

The original horror story, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a classic that sparked a thousand nightmares and redefined what it means to be human. This new special edition hardcover includes sprayed edges, gorgeous endpapers, and brand-new illustrations of key moments from the book.

Obsessed with unlocking the secrets of life, Victor Frankenstein assembles a being from fragments of the dead and shocks it into existence. But the moment his creature opens its watery eyes, triumph turns to horror. Abandoned and alone in a world that recoils from his appearance, the creature learns what it means to be feared, reviled, and denied love—and his loneliness curdles into vengeance.

Blending Gothic terror with piercing psychological insight, Frankenstein is far more than a tale of a monster. It is a haunting meditation on ambition and responsibility, and asks a question that still resonates today: What do we owe to the lives we create?

First published in 1818, Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking novel endures as one of literature’s most powerful and unsettling myths—a story that continues to electrify the imagination and challenge the conscience.