• Frankenstein

  • By: Mary Shelley
  • Narrated by: Dan Stevens
  • Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (19,603 ratings)

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Frankenstein

By: Mary Shelley
Narrated by: Dan Stevens
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Editorial review


By Haley Hill, Audible Editor

MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN IS AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GRIEVING THE DEAD CREATIVELY

I was muscling through a difficult breakup and grieving the loss of my grandmother, who had passed away in the summer before my senior year of college, so I felt more than a little overwhelmed by the idea of writing my English department thesis that fall semester. Towards the end of September, when I still had not managed to select a research topic for my paper, my brilliant advisor, who knew that I was both fascinated with Gothic literature and rapidly running out of time, handed me her copy of Frankenstein, and gently urged me to read it over the course of a couple days. Frankly, she did not have to ask me twice to devour the classic with urgency.

I have always been a fan of the macabre, so I figured a story about a mad scientist who robs graves for body parts in order to sew together a creature would be right up my alley. That being said, I was immediately blown away by how many thrilling and thought-provoking layers comprise Mary Shelley’s iconic novel.

Of all the fascinating questions that Frankenstein raises, its most infamous has to be: Who is the monster, and who is the man? (That’s in addition to the notorious confusion around who the title refers to; Frankenstein is named for the monster’s creator, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, while his creation is simply referred to in the text as "The Creature," a choice that makes sorting out protagonist from antagonist all the more challenging.) The story is as much about corruption as it is about creation, and listening to Victor and his creature narrate their two perspectives while simultaneously making each other’s lives a living hell proves just that. What makes this story so essential is just how difficult it will always be to sympathize with one character entirely over the other.

A less frequently discussed fact about Frankenstein is that is an epistolary novel, making it perfect for audio! The story is bookended by letters that Robert Walton, a seafaring explorer in search of the North Pole, writes to his worried sister, in which he relays Victor Frankenstein’s shocking confession, which the scientist shares after being rescued aboard his ship. However, despite the riveting attention to detail within Walton’s letters, he ultimately leaves listeners with a question that I find just as fascinating as the last. Will he heed Frankenstein’s saga as a cautionary tale and reconsider following his own ambitions to the literal end of the Earth?

Continue reading Haley's review >

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Solo Narration - Male, 2013

Audie Award Finalist, Classic, 2013

Narrator Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) presents an uncanny performance of Mary Shelley's timeless gothic novel, an epic battle between man and monster at its greatest literary pitch. In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor to the very brink of madness. How he tries to destroy his creation, as it destroys everything Victor loves, is a powerful story of love, friendship, scientific hubris, and horror.

Public Domain (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

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What listeners say about Frankenstein

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Unexpectedly romantic

Loved the narration! At first too slow, I changed the setting to 1.25 and much enjoyed Stevens' voice. I had started to read the book, but decided to try Audible instead. I started to listen in short spurts, but became so engrossed in the story that the last 5 hours were heard in one sitting. There is so much more to this story than most people are aware. It's about love, ambition, friendship, hatred and revenge. We see the best and the worst of man in this beautifully conceived story. It will remain with me for a long, long time.

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Unlike any movie

I’ve seen many movies concerning Frankenstein and how it all happened. Be best are the 1920's and 1930’s movies just because the special effects weren’t that good. It’s also because of the simplistic nature of the movies then. In the 1990’s another movie came out that was more to the book, but in the end not as good.

I read this to find out the true story and see what really happened as a result of a bet a century ago. Now I know and if you want to know the truth you should read this book and enjoy it as I did.

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Mesmerizing

Where does Frankenstein rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was one of the best. Dan Stevens was outstanding and created a dark mood of torment and passion.

I loved it. The story of Frankenstein, although, fantasy, is a brilliant one. I believe we all remember it from our childhood but Dan Stevens turned it into an adult read that is compelling.

I hope Dan continues as an audiobook reader.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The monster. I loved his voice of anguish and torment

Which character – as performed by Dan Stevens – was your favorite?

Frankenstein by far.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. It was hard to put down.

Any additional comments?

Although I know the story well, I didn't want it to end. It seemed new

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not what I was expecting!

Wow, the movies give you the totally wrong idea of what this story is about. I will never look at a Frankenstein costume the same ever again!

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Dan Stevens is perfect!

Dan Stevens was phenomenal. One of my favorite narrators. I had never read Frankenstein before and this was the best way. All the characters were so alive.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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mopey monster

For some reason, Mr. Stevens gives the Creature a sad sack performance that would be better suited to Marvin the Paranoid Android. Just didn't work.

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Dr. Frankenstein should take some responsibility

His moping, pouting, and complete failure to secure his family's safety while griping that no one else could possibly experience grief as deep as his proves that the "special snowflake" attitude toward life isn't just a problem of the 21st century.

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Way too cheesy romantic for me

The unnecessary wordiness and over acted narration were too much for me. But I am not a fan of the romantic novelists. I tortured myself listening to this for 3.5 hours and then just had to stop to save my sanity.

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A great classic that has flaws

First let me say that this book is an indispensable classic that everyone should read. Next I’d like to say that the idea that a 19-20 year old wrote this indispensable classic is mind boggling.
And yet....
It’s so melodramatic that it verges on comedic. And that Victor Frankenstein. You’d think that a guy who had figured out how to reanimate corpses wouldn’t be quite so thick. I kind of felt empathy for him, but he’s just such a narcissistic creep. I also almost felt empathy for the monster, but he’s pretty kill happy. Things go bad for him, and he’s pretty quick to strangle. Hard to feel too warmly toward a guy like that. He’s such a loose canon.
I say these things not to disparage a great book that countless authors owe a huge debt to, but to caution people who haven’t read this book yet to temper their expectations. Try to sift the unsatisfying bits out, and you will see the amazing work that this book truly is.

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SUPERB

Excellent narration and beautiful poetic writing. It’s not what you may expect-it’s amazing. Don’t miss it.

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