Frankenstein

:For the actual monster, see Frankenstein's monster.

Publication

Mary Shelley completed her writing in May 1817, and Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus was first published on 1 January 1818 by the small London publishing house of Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones. It was issued anonymously, with a Preface written for Mary by Percy Bysshe Shelley and with a dedication to philosopher William Godwin, her father. It was published in an edition of just 500 copies in three volumes, the standard "triple-decker" format for 19th century first editions. The novel had been previously rejected by Percy Bysshe Shelley's publisher Charles Ollier and by Byron's publisher John Murray.

Related Topics:
1817 - 1 January - 1818 - London - Publishing house - Percy Bysshe Shelley - William Godwin - John Murray

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Critical reception of the book was mostly unfavourable, compounded by confused speculation as to the identity of the author, which was not well disguised. Walter Scott wrote that "Upon the whole, the work impresses us with a high idea of the author's original genius and happy power of expression", but most reviewers thought it "a tissue of horrible and disgusting absurdity" (Quarterly Review).

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Despite the reviews, Frankenstein achieved an almost immediate popular success. It became widely known especially through melodramatic theatrical adaptations – Mary Shelley saw a production of Presumption; or The Fate of Frankenstein, a play by Richard Brinsley Peake in 1823. A French translation appeared as early as 1821 (Frankenstein: ou le Prométhée Moderne, translated by Jules Saladin).

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1823 - 1821

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The second edition of Frankenstein was published on 11 August 1823 in two volumes (by G. and W. B. Whittaker) and this time credited Mary Shelley as the author.

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11 August - 1823

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On 31 October 1831 the first "popular" edition in one volume appeared, published by Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley. This edition was quite heavily revised by Mary Shelley, and included a new longer Preface by her, presenting a somewhat embellished version of the genesis of the story. This edition tends to be the one most widely read now, although editions containing the original 1818 text are still being published.

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31 October - 1831

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The revised edition was changed in several significant ways: any indication that Frankenstein's monster was created by vice was removed and the text details a benevolent creator who creates the monster merely for the purpouses of science. Suggestions of an incestous relationship between Victor and Elizabeth are also removed by making Elizabeth an adopted child of the Frankenstein's.

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