Book Description
At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of science student Victor Frankenstein, who is obsessed with “bestowing animation upon lifeless matter.” Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts; but upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature’s hideousness. Tormented by loneliness, the creature unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator.
Frankenstein, an instant best-seller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science-
fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound questions about the
nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos. In our age, filled with news of organ donation, genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever.
Karen Karbiener received a Ph.D. from Columbia University, and currently teaches literature at
Colby College.
Frankenstein (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) FROM OUR EDITORS
Barnes & Noble Classics offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Mary
Shelley began
writing Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. At once a Gothic
thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of
science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student
Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering ?the cause of generation and
life? and ?bestowing animation upon lifeless matter,? Frankenstein assembles
a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he
recoils in horror at the creature?s hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent
creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against
his creator, Frankenstein.
Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both
the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but
also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life and
the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What
responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering
with Nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation genetic
engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever.
Karen Karbiener received a Ph.D. from Columbia University and
currently teaches literature at New York University.
Art & Photography
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