Frankenstein
Or, the Modern Prometheus
Victor Frankenstein, a gifted student in Ingolstadt, discovers how to give life to dead matter and assembles a creature, then abandons it in horror at what he has made. The creature, left to educate itself, learns language and feeling, is rejected everywhere, and turns on its maker's family. Mary Shelley began the novel at eighteen after a ghost-story contest with Byron and Percy Shelley, and published it anonymously in 1818. The structure is a set of nested narratives, told by an Arctic explorer, by Victor and by the creature himself, whose eloquent account of his loneliness is the book's moral center. Often read as the first science-fiction novel, it is also a story about responsibility, and it is stranger than most film versions suggest. Read it online in your browser on Vinteuil; the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Frankenstein
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Frankenstein online?
Yes. Frankenstein opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Frankenstein free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Frankenstein is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Frankenstein in the public domain?
Yes. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Frankenstein?
About 5 h 12 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Frankenstein?
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is filed under "Science Fiction & Fantasy" in the Vinteuil library.
