About this book
Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus is a Gothic novel written by Mary Shelley in 1818. The story revolves around Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a monstrous creature and immediately regrets his actions, abandoning the creature to its own devices. The creature, seeking acceptance and revenge, terrorizes Victor and those he loves. Themes of ambition, ethics, humanity, and loneliness are explored through Shelley's vivid descriptions of the natural world and her characters' psychological torment. Frankenstein remains a classic of Gothic literature and a seminal work of science fiction.
Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin wrote the first draft of her groundbreaking novel in 1816, while on a trip to Lake Geneva with her soon-to-be husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and poet Lord Byron. They were stuck indoors during famously known as the Year Without a Summer.
First Edition Identification
A small London publishing house, Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones, first printed Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus in a limited series of just 500 copies on January 1, 1818. By then, Mary was just 20 years old. The first edition was published anonymously in 1818, with a preface by Percy B. Shelley and a dedication to Mary’s father, philosopher William Godwin. Mary Shelley didn’t publicly claim her novel until years later, and her name appears in the second edition, published in 1823. First edition original pasteboards were in blueish gray.
First editions are very scarce and exceptionally rare on the market. In 2021 one of the first 500 copies of the novel was sold at auction for $1.17 million. It was the first Frankenstein first edition copy to be auctioned since 1985.
Details
- Title Frankenstein
- Author Mary Shelley
- Binding Paperback
- Pages 272
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Harper Perennial
- Date 2018-09-04
- Illustrated Yes
- Features Illustrated
- ISBN 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Weight 0.4 lbs (0.18 kg)
- Dimensions 7.2 x 4.6 x 1.1 in (18.29 x 11.68 x 2.79 cm)
- Ages 18 to UP years
- Grade levels 13 - UP
More Copies for Sale
Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
- Used
- Very Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$7.22FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Frankenstein: Olive Edition
by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
$11.61$13.46 shipping to USA
Show Details
FRANKENSTEIN
by Shelley, Mary
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 25
- Seller
-
New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Item Price
-
$8.67$14.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
FRANKENSTEIN
by Shelley, Mary
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 25
- Seller
-
New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Item Price
-
$8.67$14.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 714
- Seller
-
Uxbridge, Greater London, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
$12.59$10.75 shipping to USA
Show Details
FRANKENSTEIN
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Woodside, New York, United States
- Item Price
-
$9.46$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Frankenstein
by Shelley, Mary
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 500
- Seller
-
New Delhi, Delhi, India
- Item Price
-
$9.98$14.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Frankenstein (Harper Perennial Olive Editions)
by Add Shelley, Mary
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Item Price
-
$10.09$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Frankenstein (Harper Perennial Olive Editions)
by Shelley, Mary
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used: Good
- Edition
- Limited
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$11.40FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Frankenstein (Harper Perennial Olive Editions)
by Shelley, Mary
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used:Good
- Edition
- Limited
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780062870667 / 0062870661
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$21.24FREE shipping to USA