Frankenstein: The Original 1818 Text

Reader's Library Classics

By: Mary Shelley

Narrated by: Joseph Kent

Frankenstein: The Original 1818 Text by Mary Shelley is a timeless gothic novel that explores the dangers of unchecked ambition and the ethical dilemmas of scientific advancement.

First published in 1818, this groundbreaking work tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but reckless scientist who creates a sentient creature in his quest to conquer death. However, his experiment spirals into tragedy as the creature, abandoned and misunderstood, seeks both revenge and companionship.

Shelley's novel delves into themes of isolation, responsibility, and the consequences of playing god, making it a cornerstone of both horror and science fiction literature. This edition preserves the original text, offering listeners an unfiltered experience of Shelley’s haunting masterpiece.

Public Domain (P)2025 Quill Publishing

Bland Narration

Tone was weak from narrator. It didn't match tone of book, was almost cheerful in contrast to the subject. made it hard to listen to and intake.

Inventing the modern horror novel as only women could

Inventing the modern horror novel as only women could

If you are an avid reader, you have no doubt heard the tale of how #maryshelley came up with the #frankenstein novel as part of lazy rainy day challenge of young adult travelling friends prompted to write ghost stories by #lordbyron and the author's husband #percybyssheshelley . While not fully formed, the challenge coincided with recurring dreams of her dead mother, 19th Century feminist author and philosoher #marywolstonecraft who died shortly after giving birth to young Mary. These dreams of reanimation combined with the popular fad of attending medical lectures where experiments on corpses were carried out, circulated in the active mind in young Mary who later suffered the loss of a prematurely birthed daughter of she and Percy while writing Frankenstein.

This original 1818 text, while hightoned and certainly written for an extremely literate audience was told through a series of narrations telling the story of a well heeled but self taught Victor Frankenstein heading off to medical school with ample reading of Greek and Roman classics but little practical knowledge for one wishing a scientific career. His extracurricular studies in his isolated rooming house loft gave him the privacy to experiment on a corpse that somehow came to life. Rather than dealing with it or taking responsibility for his creation, Frankenstein attempts to disavow it's existence which, rather than making the problem go away, only gets worse.

The novel became a massive hit both in the written form and through numerous stage and.long after her death, screen adaptations that etched the blueprint for horror stories. Because of its influence, it was extensively studied for deeper political and religious meaning which was likewise touched on in the afterward of the novel. Whatever it's influence and deeper meaning, Frankenstein has been indelibly etched in Western Culture and demonstrates the unrestrained ingenuity of a mind encouraged to think how one wishes rather than to be constrained by convention, even if it leaves you comparatively penniless in the process.

The narrator is not it.

That's it. That's the review. But this has to be at least 15 words so here we are.

The narrator's voice.

I very much disliked the narrator's voice for this book, it did not at all fit the style of book or era. His voice was more like how to book could be listened to. The narrator voice for Frankenstein the 1831 version is amazing.

Beware: Scam AI file

I am very disappointed that Audible is now including titles like this, which are not recorded voices but clearly AI generated files whose intonations have no relation to the content of the book. There are so many excellent voice actors but instead I was duped into buying something that is completely unlistenable. The intonations follow a sing song pattern with no relation to the meaning of the words or the characters.

The supposed extras are not what they purport to be either. Most have no relation to the description in the Table of Contents. The AI could not even manage to spell the author's name correctly in the description. I wish I could give negative stars for something so blatently designed to deceive and swindle potential listeners.

Disgusting.