Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition

Description

“Because I’m teaching an intro-level course in comparative literature, this edition was extremely helpful in showing the variety of critical approaches that they can take toward a single text. The article on radical science also helped me compare Frankenstein to Alasdair Gray’s Poor Things . I highly recommend this edition of Frankenstein and will use it in the future.” -Joshua Beall, Rutgers University This Norton Critical Edition includes: The 1818 first edition text of the novel, introduced and annotated by J. Paul Hunter. Three maps and eight illustrations. A wealth of source and contextual materials, thematically arranged to promote classroom discussion. Topics include “Sources, Influences, Analogues,” “Circumstances, Composition, Revision,” and “Reception, Impact, Adaptation.” Eleven critical essays on Frankenstein’s major themes, six of them new to the Third Edition. A chronology and a selected bibliography. About the Series Read by more than 12 million students over fifty-five years, Norton Critical Editions set the standard for apparatus that is right for undergraduate readers. The three-part format―annotated text, contexts, and criticism―helps students to better understand, analyze, and appreciate the literature, while opening a wide range of teaching possibilities for instructors. Whether in print or in digital format, Norton Critical Editions provide all the resources students need. “A wonderful critical edition. I’m impressed with the quality of the essays. I will use this book in my Brit Lit II survey course.” Mary Thompson, University of Sussex (United Kingdom) “This is a magnificent edition of Frankenstein! The articles selected are really relevant. . . . The notes are also significant and informative, and the materials are equally interesting. Very good indeed!” Dr. Antonio Gonzales, Filologia Moderna, University of Castilla–La Mancha (Spain) Review: Great Book Everyone Should Read - I absolutely love this book, the story is so captivating and told in a great way. The book itself is very sturdy and durable, I'm in school so I just throw it around and it had held up really well. Review: A Classic That Reads Even Better in the Norton Critical Edition - I picked up the Norton Critical Edition of Frankenstein, and it’s easily one of the best versions of this novel I’ve read. The story itself is still powerful—Mary Shelley’s mix of horror, emotion, and philosophical questions holds up incredibly well—but this edition adds a lot of depth without getting in the way of the actual reading experience. The text is clean, readable, and presented the way Shelley intended, which makes revisiting the novel feel fresh even if you’ve read it before. What really makes this edition stand out is the supplemental material. The essays and historical documents give you a clearer sense of what Shelley was responding to when she wrote the book, and they add layers you don’t get from basic printings. You see how ideas about science, morality, responsibility, and even early debates about “playing God” shaped the story. The critical essays are varied enough that you get several perspectives without feeling overwhelmed. The annotations are another highlight. They’re helpful without being intrusive, and they fill in details that make certain scenes or references easier to appreciate. You can read straight through without checking the notes, or you can take your time and explore the background—either way, it enhances the experience instead of breaking the flow. Overall, this is a five-star edition of a five-star classic. If you want Frankenstein in a format that’s both enjoyable to read and rich with context, the Norton Critical Edition is absolutely worth having on your shelf. Ready whenever you are for the next item.