Frankenstein is the most famous novel by Mary Shelley a dark parable of science misused Victor Frankenstein a brilliant but wayward scientist builds a human from dead flesh Horrified at what he has done he abandons his creation The hideous creature learns language & becomes civilized but society rejects him Spurned he seeks vengeance on his creator So begins a cycle of destruction with Frankenstein & his &monster& pursuing each other to the extremes of nature until all vestiges of their humanity are lost In 1831 Mary Shelley succumbed to conservative pressures & toned down elements of the work The novel is presented here in its original form & with an afterword by David Pinching Designed to appeal to the booklover the Macmillan Collector&s Library is a series of beautiful special gift editions of much loved classic titles Macmillan Collector&s Library are books to love & treasure