We often get asked what version of Frankenstein we’ll be using in our programs or that we recommend.
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus has been around for a long time; over the course of 200 years it has appeared in a number of editions. Most famously, the original version published anonymously in 1818 was significantly revised by Mary Shelley and republished in 1831, along with her reflections about the dare that inspired her to write such a monstrous story. It’s the 1831 version that is most commonly read today, and we’re using in our programs.
Frankenstein is in the public domain, so there are dozens, if not hundreds, of options available through publishers, print-on-demand services, and online. Some contain additional essays, footnotes and other materials to provide context and insight into the original novel.
Here are the two editions we recommend, depending on your interests and budget. Both use the 1831 version of the story.
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Simon & Schuster’s Enriched Classic, Complete and Unabridged: Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, supplemental material written by Margaret Brantley, 2009. This paperback version is very affordable and widely available. Community Read grantees who requests copies of the book will receive this version.
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Frankenstein: Annotated for Scientists, Engineers, and Creators of All Kinds, edited by David H. Guston, Ed Finn and Jason Scott Robert (MIT Press, 2017). This new edition includes fascinating annotations and essays that explain the scientific ideas from Mary Shelley’s time that found their way into the book, as well as draw connections to science and engineering debates and cases today. Every Community Read and Frankenfest host will receive one copy of this edition, since our goal for One State / One Story is to spark conversations about the role of science and technology in our lives.
There are also free digital editions available to read online or download on your e-reader! Check them out:
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Project Gutenberg provides free EPUB and Kindle versions of the book, among others. Read and download them here.
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In January, MIT Press will publish a free open-source version of the version mentioned above, annotated for scientists, engineers and other creators. The online version will include all the annotations from the print edition, plus some new ones. Even cooler, you’ll be able to add your own annotations! We’ll share when it’s available.