Heather at Age 30+…A Lifetime of Books (“Frankenstein”)  and Jill at Fizzy Thoughts (“Dracula”)   co-hosted this month’s ”Dueling Monsters” Read-a-long.  The above links lead to their own thoughts on what they read.  I believe there will be a round-up of participants’ posts on Halloween or thereabouts.  Participants had a choice of reading either “Dracula” or “Frankenstein”, or both.  I only read “Frankenstein”.

When I began reading “Frankenstein”, I learned that there were basically two published versions:  the 1818 version, and a later one published in 1835.  The copy of “Frankenstein” I had (sitting, unread, on my shelf for several years) is a recent edition of the 1835 story.  It’s below; an Oxford World Classics paperback copy.

While I was dragging myself through the 1835 edition, at the same time I was really curious about the earlier 1818 version.  I found out that Vintage Classics has recently published a volume that includes both versions.   Actually, rather than including a copy of the 1818 version of “Frankenstein”, this book looks at, and includes, the draft (1816/1817) that led to the initial publication of  ”Frankenstein”.   So, I ordered it. 

“The Original Frankenstein: Two New Versions, Mary Shelley’s Earliest Draft and Percy Shelley’s Revised Text”  should have arrived here earlier, on Wednesday (via amazon.com 2-day delivery).  But a huge snowstorm hit the Rockies that day.  My kids ended up having three snow days from school in a row!   By the way, having them home has not been very conductive to blogging (or much else).  The book finally arrived this morning, two days after it should have.  So, I haven’t gotten to look through it very closely yet.

This book, edited by Charles E. Robinson, has two parts:  the first is the modified version, called “Mary (with Percy Shelley)”.  The second part is the earlier version, “Mary Shelley”.  The pages of the second part is tinted slightly darker, which is obvious if you look at the book from the side.

So why would there be a difference between the 1818 and 1835 versions of “Frankenstein”, and why is it a big deal?  Well, let’s start with the story of how “Frankenstein” came to be written in the first place.  Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1797-1851) fell in love with Percy Bysshe Shelley, the poet (1792-1822).  She was 16.  Not only that, Percy Bysshe Shelley was still married at the time.   So the two lovers lived together (meanwhile having children together also) for four years until Percy’s wife committed suicide.  Then Mary and Percy tied the knot just a couple weeks later.   Nice, huh?  Anyway, Mary and Percy were good friends with Lord Byron (another poet).  During a summer holiday at Lord Byron’s house (when Mary was still Percy’s mistress), the house guests staying there came up with a challenge.  Each were to write a good, scary story; and then share it with each other.   Out of this fun time, “Frankenstein” is the only story to have reached posterity.

Apparently, ”Frankenstein” started out shorter than it is now, but Percy encouraged  Mary to embellish it further, and recommended some changes.    Because of his editing and suggestions,  some parts reflect his own writing style rather than Mary’s.   Among other suggestions to the book, he suggested changes to the personality of the “Frankenstein” monster.  Percy also played a large part in getting the book initially published.

So, until I get the chance to compare the different versions,  I’ll have to stick with my opinion of the version published in 1835.  While reading this book, there were quite a few times where I found myself resisting temptation to skim.  I wonder if those were Percy’s parts?    I also had to occasionally suspend disbeleif  while reading.   For example — even though the monster isolated himself, he somehow taught himself to read, and also somehow became very verbally articulate.

Here is a quote, where the monster is speaking to Frankenstein:

“Will no entreaties cause you to turn a favourable eye upon thy creature who implores thy goodness and compassion?  Believe me, Frankenstein:  I was benevolent — my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone?  You my creator abhor me.  What hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures who owe me nothing?  They spurn and hate me. …”

I can see, however, why “Frankenstein” became a classic.  At the time it was published, it must have been considered very shocking.  I’m guessing not very many novels at that time had people, or monsters for that matter, going on murderous rampages.  Also the very idea of Frankenstein creating a monster has an early science fiction element to it;  being written at a time when people were just beginning to understand better the workings of science (such as anatomy, chemistry and physics). 

As the introduction to “The Original Frankenstein” states,

“Knowledge can be constructive, but it too often leads to the fiery destruction to self and others”.

When Frankenstein creates his monster, he learns it can be done; but initially does not realize what the end results will be (the monster becomes destructive).

If you are interested in reading “Frankenstein”, I’d probably recommend that you find some way to compare the two versions.  Even though I have not had the chance to look at “The Original Frankenstein” in full,  it looks like a good place to start.

Any thoughts you’d like to share about “Frankenstein”, or for that matter, his dueling monster, “Dracula”?  I wish I had the time to read “Dracula” this month as well!

This entry was posted on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 5:56 PM and is filed under authors, books, read alongs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.