One of the most interesting things I learned was that the novel didn't gain acceptance as a "classic" worthy of serious study until the early s It's also inspired me to finally get around to watching the rest of the Universal Frankenstein films "Leftover" Halloween reading It's also inspired me to finally get around to watching the rest of the Universal Frankenstein films as well as Kenneth Branagh's version, although the author doesn't seem to think too much of it.
Very quick reading, but also very well done. View all 4 comments. Dec 04, Stephen rated it really liked it. A fascinating history of the Fraknestein genesis and the story's ongoing presence in literary, film and general culture. Beginning with the writing of the story and the circumstances surrounding that to the first films and the ongoing adaptation of the name to fit different circumstances, the influence of the name "Frankenstein" is examined.
Never overwhelmingly academic in style but clearly thoroughly researched, this is definitely a good read. And in the fun fact area The name of the lead character? Frankinstitch who is a tailor rather than a physician. Take that, Mel Brooks! Mar 14, Yvonne rated it liked it. Purporting to be a "cultural history" of Frankenstein, this text starts out a little heavy on the influence of Milton and all the men in Mary Shelley's life on her masterwork and then moves into a overly-descriptive history of early film adaptations of the novel.
If you're looking for a book about the development of the "Frankenstein" monster - this is a decent enough starting place. If you're looking for a scholarly study of Mary Shelley's novel, this has some info but nothing you can't find in Purporting to be a "cultural history" of Frankenstein, this text starts out a little heavy on the influence of Milton and all the men in Mary Shelley's life on her masterwork and then moves into a overly-descriptive history of early film adaptations of the novel.
If you're looking for a scholarly study of Mary Shelley's novel, this has some info but nothing you can't find in other more academic work. An easy and somewhat entertaining read, this is definitely aimed a popular audience, not for academics. Jan 13, Nicole rated it really liked it. What can I say? The modern Prometheus is now the modern myth-- the fabric of Western culture, stitched into modern consciousness where it sees a fit. Shelley's novel climbed into our modern consciousness and continues to speak.
This is the first of several books that I'm reading for teaching a unit on Frankenstein. So far, it is the most useful. I highly recommend this book for exploring the cultural signifi What can I say?
I highly recommend this book for exploring the cultural significance of Frankenstein for all interested in finding the monster within! Jun 23, Emily rated it liked it Shelves: This was an interesting walk through the "cultural history" of Frankenstein. Since I haven't ready Mary Shelly's original nor seen any of the movies, this was a good introduction, and I'll be sure to add Frankensein to my "To Read" list.
I was a little disappointed that it wasn't more of a literary critism book, but I suppose the title should have warned me. I think the first third was on the author and the novel, but the rest on plays, movies, comics, and other cultural references.
Jul 05, Eric rated it liked it Shelves: nonfiction , To me, Frankenstein's monster is the ultimate outsider. Made by man, shunned by mankind. There is no place in this world for him to exist. But the myth of the monster remains ambiguous to say the least.
The big guy can be scary or funny, depending on the situation. Author Susan Tyler Hitchcock does a pretty good job of explaining the appeal of Mary Shelley's famous creature. Recommended for all Frankenstein freaks. You know who you are.
View all 5 comments. Oct 26, Joel Manuel rated it liked it. I agree with other reviewers who've said that the cover is deceptive. I kind of lost interest when it got to the human cloning section, and I frowned when I saw a few glaring and obvious errors in Hitchcock's discussion of the Universal Frankenstein movies Lionel Atwill was NOT in Bride of Frankenstein, for example.
Jun 06, Kathy Petersen rated it really liked it Shelves: read-non-fiction , x-febthru-jan I became acquainted with Frankenstein and his creature through the local Saturday night Spooktacular as my cousins and I would turn off the lights and dare each other not to scream.
I was intrigued to read the original at a relatively young age, 12 or so, and enjoyed the book immensely. Revisited several times in my adult years, Frankenstein has remained a favorite. Thus I especially enjoyed Hitchcock's thoroughly researched and wide-ranging volume.
Jul 15, Joel rated it liked it. The historical background to Shelley's life and inspiration were really interesting, as were some of the explorations of how the monster transformed from a threat to something comfortable and back to horrible, but too much of the book was just describing different movies or political cartoons.
I missed the deeper analysis that I was looking for; it was brushed on, but not explored. Overall, it gave me some good fodder for background and discussion, but it wasn't stellar. Dec 31, Hannah Givens rated it really liked it Shelves: nonfiction , history.
This might be one of my favorite nonfiction books, and I wish there were more books like it. It's a thorough history of Frankenstein's impact on culture. It starts with Frankenstein's creation and the early stage adaptations, then a thorough treatment of the 20th-century movies, sequels, parodies, etc. It finishes up with the myth's relevance to modern science and feminism. Nothing is just described, everything is discussed. Sleek, never boring.
Love it! Jan 22, John rated it it was ok Recommends it for: mad scientists. Shelves: nonfiction. A detailed overview of the life of Mary Shelley and her Frankenstein novel. An overview, nonetheless, which quickly moves through a cultural history of the monster. All aspects are briefly dispatched with little exposition or explanation. Occasionally insightful and almost always fun, tho, for any fan. Jul 13, Amber rated it liked it Shelves: non-fiction.
Or, she was going to be. She was pregnant and she had run away to Italy with Percy Shelley and his tubercular friends. One of many fun facts that awaits you in the cultural history of a favorite monster that I fear will grow obscure in the recent rash of vampire fanaticism.
Jul 23, Rosy rated it really liked it. This book was a surprisingly delightful read. I now know more about Frankenstein than I ever needed to know.
It is thorough and insightful, from the beginnings of Dr. Frankenstein: A Cultural History. Norton, Knoepflmacher, eds. Clara dies Mellor, Anne K. Routledge, Byron reveals that Mary is the author of Frankenstein Perkowitz, Sidney. Sees Presumption, a play based Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Wolfson, Susan J. The Annotated Frankenstein. Belknap, Norton, as author Small, Christopher. Mary Shelley: A Biography. Dutton, Houghton Mifflin, Percy becomes heir to the Shelley title but is not given income to Turney, Jon.
Yale, Sign up Log in. Web icon An illustration of a computer application window Wayback Machine Texts icon An illustration of an open book. Books Video icon An illustration of two cells of a film strip. Video Audio icon An illustration of an audio speaker. Audio Software icon An illustration of a 3. Rousing statements often introduce the sections, e. Hitchcock then launches into summary and historical context without delivering on such an enticing sentence.
The book follows a trend: brief crests of potential analysis to long troughs of examples and anecdotes. The cultural mechanisms, however, connecting the wealth of history to the legacy of the text are conspicuously absent. In Chapter 8, Hitchcock covers the conceptions of the monster in s and s movies and print. After the initial films released by Universal studios, the myth of Frankenstein began to spread into other aspects of culture.
Many copies of Frankenstein were included in the three million books sent between and The monster was a frequent subject for political cartoonists during the war This brought increased demand for additional films. Universal put out several movies using the Frankenstein mythology in the s, ranging in genre:. In Universal producers summoned the Ghost of Frankenstein ; in they arranged it so Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man ; in the monster fought Boris Karloff, now playing a crazed villain, and ultimately dragged him to his death by quicksand near the House of Frankenstein ; in the monster and other ghoulish creatures gathered in the House of Dracula ; and by , it was time for peacetime frolics, and the studio had Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.
Through these films, the Frankenstein myth evolved considerably. Ghost of Frankenstein , for example, makes Ygor a central character. Because Ygor and the monster did not share a blood type, this rendered the monster blind, resulting in Lon Chaney Jr. Other body parts were being transplanted successfully during this time, including hearts
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