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Frankenstein Audiobook
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(3.00) - 462,972 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has captured the minds of science fiction lovers since its publication in 1818. It follows the story of a brilliant scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who accidentally creates a living monster from putting together body-parts. After abandoning the sickening monster, and fleeing to Geneva, the monster’s horrific acts follow him, and his family throughout the novel. The monster forces Victor to make horrific, morally questionable decisions and goes on rampages of vengeance whenever Victor refuses.
Knowledge, and the reckless pursuit of knowledge, can pose dangers to those not careful enough to consider its consequences. The pursuit of knowledge is the novel’s central theme. Victor’s relentless seeking of knowledge (beyond what society accepts), and his desire for the secret of life, is the cause of his ultimate demise. Victor believes his discoveries will bring him glory and transform society. As he works to bring the creature to life, he believes himself to be nothing less than a god. But he fails to fulfill the responsibilities a creator has for his creature. His arrogance was not prepared for the grotesque monster he created, causing him to flee. The monster that he created in his pursuit of knowledge, and his arrogance, led to the destruction of everyone he holds dear in his life, and the destruction of his sanity. Throughout the novel, as the monster murders more of Victor’s loved ones he obsesses over his hatred for the monster, leading to further dire consequences.
Shelley also uses the monster Victor created to suggest that perhaps Victor himself is the monster. His ambition and selfishness drive him to make decisions that alienate him from society, including his obsessive hatred for the monster. Even when the monster itself pleads with Victor to take responsibility for his actions, Victor still blames the monster, unable to fathom he has blood on his hands. The monster is only a mirror of Victor’s character, and a symbol of what his selfish ambitions can do to others.
Frankenstein is one of the earliest examples of science fiction, told through the perspective of multiple characters, including the monster. Permeated with mystery and darkness, this classic tells the story of humans who find refuge in nature, while struggling with their own emotional turmoil.
"Everyone has heard of Frankenstein, there is an image that surely comes to everyone's mind when you hear about it but that image has changed for me. Frankenstein is the creator, not the monster itself. The actual story is much different than I thought. It was a very interesting how it displayed the challenges between science and religion. At first I was confused with the letters written at the beginning of the book, but at the end everything came together."
— Nick (4 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
On the deck of his ice-imprisoned ship, explorer Robert Walton watches from a great distance as an enormous apparition travels with much haste across the frozen shore. The next day, Walton fishes from the sea a melancholy scientist named Frankenstein, who shares with Walton the horrifying account of his life and of the "hideous progeny" he set loose upon the world. Frankenstein was written while 19-year-old Mary Shelley vacationed in Geneva with poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron. An incessantly rainy summer prompted Byron to challenge the members of the party to write a tale of the supernatural. While listening to a discussion concerning the theory of electrical reanimation, Mary Shelley was struck, almost to terror, with the idea for Frankenstein: "The idea so possessed my mind that a thrill of fear ran through me, and I wished to exchange the ghastly image of my fancy for the realities around ." A universal classic, Mary Shelley's romantic tale of an ambitious doctor who places himself in the dangerous role of God was first published anonymously in 1818. Master narrator George Guidall skillfully brings to life the doctor and his unhappy creation.
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Frankenstein Listener Reviews
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" Not one of my favorite books I've ever read in school that's for sure, and quite possibly the worst ending I've ever read. BUT the story was sort of interesting... "
— Corynn, 2/20/2014 -
" This was boring and anti climatic. "
— Lauren, 2/12/2014 -
" Read this a long time ago and would like to read again with others. I remember it being a challenging read but a great story and when finished you feel so terrible and so much pity for the "monster". "
— Cara, 2/11/2014 -
" I don't want to talk about it. "
— Paul, 2/11/2014 -
" Not one of my favorite books I've ever read in school that's for sure, and quite possibly the worst ending I've ever read. BUT the story was sort of interesting... "
— Corynn, 2/9/2014 -
" I give this book a 5 because I loved it! It is a sad but romantic story. The love between the monster and his creator is not visible till the end of the novel, but it shows that even a monster had good intentions. I really enjoyed this book. "
— Amy, 2/2/2014 -
" It was ok but the pieces did not match I t got confusing at the end "
— Imran, 1/26/2014 -
" My junior year of college I had to read this for three different classes over two semesters and I didn't mind because I had already fallen in love with the Barry Moser edition when I was about 12. I still reread this book every two years or so. I never tire of it and between the Ward and Moser illustrated editions, I can't pick a favorite! "
— Kenneth, 1/21/2014 -
" One of my favorites from Brit Lit! "
— Richi, 1/20/2014 -
" For a classic, of course it was good and I enjoyed it. We had to read it for my Literary Study. "
— Catie, 1/16/2014 -
" Although the book does get really dense at times, I think this helps slow the reader down so that they can actually think about Shelley's themes - whether or not you actually need to analyze the book, these add an extra depth to the book to make it more than just a ghost story. I'm not sure all the details about scenery and the like were necessary though. "
— Gareth, 1/9/2014 -
" I found this book to be surprisingly entertaining. It was an older book, but once I got past a couple of pages, I just fell right into the story. "
— Kathy, 1/7/2014 -
" Such a great novel. Ultimate classic. Will read again! "
— Angelia, 1/7/2014 -
" I was really surprised by this book, particularly how well Shelley captured the male ego and its hubris. She gives a frighteningly prescient account of how man can be so easily seduced by power of creation and the pursuit to play God. It can be slow at times but is always interesting. "
— Greg, 1/2/2014 -
" We read this book for English. I liked it. "
— Alisa, 1/2/2014 -
" Tried to love it as much as Dracula, but the story got a little wayward in parts. "
— Long, 12/17/2013 -
" A much quainter book then I expected, with no unneeded fanfare. This book really was just a statement on nature vs nurture and what truly makes the monster. "
— Battlepaint, 12/10/2013 -
" It was good but if you don't like classics I don't recommend this book to you "
— Kxk6419, 12/5/2013 -
" The mother of Science Fiction. End of. "
— Delia, 11/23/2013 -
" Great classic. Loved the moral ambiguity. "
— Ensis, 11/22/2013 -
" It started out better than it ended, I think. At first I was really intrigued. But then the story started to drag on and on. Slow moving. But, overall an interesting read with a lot of themes and food for thought. "
— Rudi, 11/14/2013 -
" A nice quick science fiction story with gothic themes and religious undertones. The only thing I ever took issue with is that the monster has an articulate and large vocabulary, though this is explained in-book, so there's reasons for that, though I think they are flimsy. "
— Stephen, 10/24/2013 -
" I had to read over the summer in high school and LOVED that it was nothing like what I expected. "
— cassie, 10/4/2013 -
" Very well written. A pleasurable small story, but slightly flawed and simplistic in character design. "
— Paulomonic, 10/1/2013 -
" A book all my Honors' students at UMaine read and loved. Decided I should read it and I did enjoy it. "
— Mary, 9/12/2013 -
" The beutiful use of the english language parred with the romantisism and tragic plot line was a great experiance of emotion. "
— Johan, 6/4/2013 -
" A great story, but one which drowns in verbal flourish and suffers from a mono-character perspective throughout, everyone else is just a foil. Could do with a massive edit. "
— Christo, 5/1/2013 -
" My favorite book of all time. "
— Elaina, 4/26/2013 -
" I surprisingly didn't hate this book. I found it interesting to learn about Mary Shelley's life, and I didn't mind reading this story that she managed to come up with. "
— Jennifer, 4/6/2013 -
" A fascinating read given the era and the author's age and circumstances. "
— Lisa, 2/15/2013 -
" Is a great book to read "
— Victoria, 1/18/2013 -
" A novel that has been on my to do list for quite some time, and I finally got around to reading it. Brilliant novel, the language is beautiful. Love the way its narrated, the different storylines within eachother and the flow of the whole story. "
— Mette, 1/16/2013 -
" One of the strangest books I've ever read but enjoyable because of that. "
— Kerry, 1/8/2013 -
" I was really surprised by this book, particularly how well Shelley captured the male ego and its hubris. She gives a frighteningly prescient account of how man can be so easily seduced by power of creation and the pursuit to play God. It can be slow at times but is always interesting. "
— Greg, 12/29/2012 -
" So completely different than what I thought...loved that part of it. "
— Rashelle, 11/21/2012 -
" A classic that needs to be read ! "
— Dan, 10/2/2012 -
" My perception of the book came from the movies. I was so surprised at how much more the book is. I know books are better than movies but I don't think I've seen an adaptation that gives this book proper due. "
— Karen, 9/10/2012 -
" One of my favorite classics!! "
— Lisa, 6/16/2012 -
" Well, i only new 'frankenstein' from 'popular culture' (e.g. representations on TV). Mary Shelley's book is at points boring, at points 'old', but it certainly is worth reading, if only for the way the relationship between creation and creator is described. "
— Ioana, 4/15/2012 -
" Perhaps my favorite classic novel! Beautiful writing and a bold statement by a woman author during the Romantic period! "
— Krystal, 4/13/2012 -
" Well guys? Can't say a woman can't write a Classic monster story as well as any man, having read this book! I am a fan of all Classic monster books! Dracula, The Werewolf, The Mummy etc. Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" ranks as equal to them all. "
— Michelle, 4/10/2012 -
" I unfortunately read this AFTER seeing the iconic film with Boris Karloff. Read this before seeing any film or production---it is a terrific book! "
— Edwin, 3/11/2012 -
" A heartbreakingly amazing story! It really makes you think! "
— Lindsey, 2/6/2012 -
" the first couple chapters were SUCH A PAIN. But then i got with the flow and very much enjoyed it. "
— Nayram, 2/1/2012 -
" Good book. I really enjoy how the author makes you sympathize with both the monster and his creator by showing flaws in both of their thinking. Well written and a delight to read, recommended for those who like literary books. "
— Bryan, 12/6/2011 -
" I love the narrative style that effortlessly weaves between Walton's letters to his sister, Frankstein's first-person account of his life and struggles, and chapters told from the monster's perspective. What can I say? It ain't a classic for nothing. "
— George, 11/5/2011 -
" Mary Shelley's classic story of a young doctor's quest for mortality gone very wrong. His created creature murders all he loves to try to get the doctor to create a mate for himself. "
— Ronald, 11/1/2011 -
" Read this for book group. It was very different than what I expected. Frankenstein reminded me more of Big Foot than the monster I expected. It explores some interesting subjects such as what makes us human, the fruits of a revenge-driven life, etc. "
— Marydcollett, 10/31/2011 -
" A work of genius for its time. "
— Dennis, 10/30/2011 -
" Um livro realmente impressionante. A definição de "horror gótico". "
— Gabriel, 10/29/2011 -
" I can't believe it too me this long to read Frankenstein. Beautiful. Absolutely wonderful. Shelley truly created a masterpiece with this work. "
— Johnny, 10/28/2011 -
" Way better than I thought. Funny how you can assume you know the story based on popular culture. It was quite different than I thought it would be. Love it! "
— Bonnie, 8/8/2011 -
" One of my all time favourite books. "
— Natalie, 7/30/2011 -
" not bad. <br/>i do enjoy gothic fiction, the way they're written is facinating. <br/>but i still felt marginally detatched from the characters and story. <br/>but i watched the 94' movie with Helena Bonham Carter and i was all set :D "
— Alexander, 5/23/2011 -
" One of my all time favorites! This is NOT a book about a monster. It is a book about humanity and what it is to be human. Beautifully written. "
— Ann, 5/23/2011 -
" not bad. <br/>i do enjoy gothic fiction, the way they're written is facinating. <br/>but i still felt marginally detatched from the characters and story. <br/>but i watched the 94' movie with Helena Bonham Carter and i was all set :D "
— Alexander, 5/23/2011 -
" It was kind of a hard book to read (for me). Some parts were really slow and hard to understand. But it is really a classic that everyone should read. It shows the harshness and brutality of humans towards "different" things. "
— Devin, 5/22/2011 -
" I had to read this for an Open Uni course - it is very good "
— Sarah, 5/22/2011 -
" It was kind of a hard book to read (for me). Some parts were really slow and hard to understand. But it is really a classic that everyone should read. It shows the harshness and brutality of humans towards "different" things. "
— Devin, 5/22/2011 -
" I had to read this for an Open Uni course - it is very good "
— Sarah, 5/22/2011 -
" This is a beautifully written tale. "
— Paul, 5/20/2011 -
" interesting for scholars, reflecting the ills of the industrial society...<br/>not quite enjoyable as a book to read. "
— Roman, 5/20/2011 -
" This is a beautifully written tale. "
— Paul, 5/20/2011 -
" interesting for scholars, reflecting the ills of the industrial society...<br/>not quite enjoyable as a book to read. "
— Roman, 5/20/2011 -
" I thought it was quite dry, the only times it became a page turner was when frankenstein was actually in the scene, and unfortunatly that was probably only an 1/8ish of the book. "
— Steven, 5/20/2011 -
" Interesting to read the actual story of <em>Frankenstein</em>. It's always nice to read the original version of a story that has been done so many times. it gives you a fresh perpective on the new retellings. "
— Drucilla, 5/20/2011 -
" I thought it was quite dry, the only times it became a page turner was when frankenstein was actually in the scene, and unfortunatly that was probably only an 1/8ish of the book. "
— Steven, 5/20/2011 -
" Interesting to read the actual story of <em>Frankenstein</em>. It's always nice to read the original version of a story that has been done so many times. it gives you a fresh perpective on the new retellings. "
— Drucilla, 5/20/2011 -
" I enjoyed the philosophical themes in this book. Definitely a thoughtful book, not nearly the horror the movies all become. "
— Morgan, 5/19/2011 -
" I enjoyed the philosophical themes in this book. Definitely a thoughtful book, not nearly the horror the movies all become. "
— Morgan, 5/19/2011 -
" I read this book on a train bound for Scotland in 1995. It has a compelling moral: we create monsters by the way we treat or mistreat people. "
— David, 5/18/2011 -
" I read this book on a train bound for Scotland in 1995. It has a compelling moral: we create monsters by the way we treat or mistreat people. "
— David, 5/18/2011 -
" One of the worst written books in English but one of the great ideas in English literature. The handling of the creature within the narrative is particularly egregious. Read this as it is an important story in modern literature but also notice the nonsensical unfolding account of that creature. "
— Alan, 5/18/2011 -
" One of the worst written books in English but one of the great ideas in English literature. The handling of the creature within the narrative is particularly egregious. Read this as it is an important story in modern literature but also notice the nonsensical unfolding account of that creature. "
— Alan, 5/18/2011 -
" interesting kind of dry but...okay I think. "
— Megan, 5/17/2011 -
" interesting kind of dry but...okay I think. "
— Megan, 5/17/2011 -
" A beautiful novel. It does feel as though it goes on a bit too long, but the imagery is captivating. "
— Anna, 5/14/2011
About Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley (1797–1851), née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, was born in London, the second daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, well known feminist, philosopher, educator, and writer, and William Godwin, famous English philosopher, novelist, and journalist. She was best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, written when she was eighteen and published when she was twenty-one. She was married to the Romantic writer Percy Bysshe Shelley.
About George Guidall
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.