Autorentext

Mary Shelley, born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1797-1851), was the daughter of philosopher and political writer William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft (The Vindication of the Rights of Woman). Mary Shelley had a painful and turbulent life. Her mother died shortly after giving birth. Mary ran away with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, a married student of her father's, which resulted in alienation from her family and scandal. The couple traveled throughout Europe and lost their first child in 1815. Then, Mary's half-sister committed suicide, followed shortly thereafter by Percy's wife Harriett. This unfortunate circumstance allowed Percy and Mary to be wed in 1816. Percy Shelley drowned while sailing in 1822, leaving Mary as a young widow and mother. Mary Shelley is renowned for Frankenstein, but she also wrote additional novels, working to support her son and keeping her husband's legacy alive. She died of brain cancer in 1851.

Klappentext

"Beware, for I am fearless and therefore powerful."A timeless masterpiece born from the imagination of a 20-year-old genius, Frankenstein is far more than a Gothic horror novel. It is a foundational myth of modern literature-a gripping tale of creation, responsibility, and the fragile boundary between scientific ambition and moral consequence. Often hailed as the first work of science fiction, Mary Shelley's novel explores the haunting question: what does it mean to play God? In Victor Frankenstein's attempt to animate life, the natural order is disrupted, echoing the defiant myth of Prometheus. But once the creature opens its eyes, it is not just a monster who is born-but a mirror held up to humanity itself.At the heart of the novel lies a deeply moving meditation on isolation, identity, and the yearning for love and acceptance. In the face of rejection and cruelty, even the noblest of spirits can descend into darkness.Frankenstein continues to fascinate because it speaks to our deepest fears and desires. Are we not all, in some way, fragmented beings-patched together by experience, longing for wholeness under indifferent skies?More than two centuries later, this story of moral reckoning and scientific overreach remains as powerful-and relevant-as ever. Its enduring cultural impact is confirmed by Guillermo del Toro's recent film adaptation, which brings new life to Mary Shelley's classic. This new edition is presented in large print to provide an easier and more comfortable reading experience.