Frankenstein and the Gothic - Thursdays from 15th January

Mary Shelley wrote the famous Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. The story of  the scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who makes a creature and brings it to life, is the world's most famous work of horror fiction.  

Frankenstein is such an interesting book to read and study. It has three fascinating elements. It has a great central idea that has fed into our modern fears of science clashing with nature. It has a wonderful core story, and has a remarkable central character, the monster.  

This course uses the original 1831 text by Mary Shelley.  We will also look at some brief extracts from other gothic novels of the time: Dracula by Bram Stoker; The Vampyre by John Polidori; Camilla by Sheridan Le Fanu.  

Geoff says:

"In recent years, this novel has been interpreted from biographical, psychological, sociopolitical, philosophical, and feminist perspectives.  It has wonderful descriptive elements fully in tune with the "romantic" period of its time.  This book was written over 200 years ago in 1818, and then revised by Mary Shelley in 1831 - this is the version we will discuss.  To read it in the original is really worthwhile!"