Most people know the pop culture version: a castle, an Igor, and a monster that walks with its arms out. The real book is something else entirely. Published in 1818 by a teenager, it’s a story that has haunted readers for over 200 years, and for good reason.

The Story

The book is told through letters from an explorer, Robert Walton, who finds a man named Victor Frankenstein near death on the Arctic ice. Victor tells his tragic tale. As a young student obsessed with science, he discovers the secret of creating life. He builds a man from body parts and brings it to life. But the moment the creature opens its eyes, Victor is filled with terror and disgust. He abandons it.

The creature, intelligent and sensitive but hideous to look at, is left alone in a world that hates him on sight. He learns to speak and read by secretly observing a kind family, but when he tries to connect, he’s violently rejected. Heartbroken and enraged, he seeks out his creator, Victor, and demands he make a female companion. When Victor refuses, the creature swears revenge, setting off a deadly game of cat and mouse that destroys everything Victor holds dear.

Why You Should Read It

This book shocked me. I went in expecting a simple horror story and found a deep, sad novel about responsibility, loneliness, and revenge. Shelley makes you feel for both Victor and his creation. Victor isn’t a mad scientist; he’s a proud, ambitious guy who makes a huge mistake and spends the rest of his life running from it. The creature is the star for me. His chapters, where he describes learning about the world and his own crushing isolation, are incredibly moving. You understand exactly why he becomes so angry. The question the book asks—who is the real monster?—isn’t just a cool tagline; it’s the painful core of the whole story.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves a story that sticks with you. It’s for readers who enjoy gothic atmosphere and big philosophical questions, but also for people who just want a compelling, tragic drama. If you like stories about complicated characters, the dangers of playing God, or the consequences of abandoning your responsibilities, you’ll find so much here. Don’t let the ‘classic’ label scare you—Shelley’s prose is clear and the plot moves with real urgency. It’s a masterpiece that genuinely deserves the title.