This Day in World History: On January 1st, 1818, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus was published by the small London publishing house Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones. It was issued anonymously, with a preface written for Mary by her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and with a dedication to philosopher William Godwin, her father. It was published in an edition of just 500 copies in three volumes, the standard “triple-decker” format for 19th-century first editions.
Mary Shelley would receive credit as the book’s author in the second edition of Frankenstein, published four years later – August 11th, 1822 – in two volumes (by G. and W. B. Whittaker) following the success of the stage play Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein by Richard Brinsley Peake.
The (one-volume) edition most widely published and read now was first released nine years after that – on October 31st, 1831 – and was heavily revised by Mary Shelley, partially to make the story less radical, and included a lengthy new preface by the author, presenting a somewhat embellished version of the genesis of the story.
oh the inherent homoeroticism of blood-soaked bodies clinging to one another, the red honey dripping in excess, forming a path of ruin and murder. eyes seeking salvation, the other clouded with carnal affection. the head is thrown back, revealing the neck of smooth, Vestal skin, the knife in their hand’s dig deeper– harder. there exists no room for a fair hero and muse. in the consummation of the crime, lay the crimson limbs of a villain and their tortured lover
Frankenstein: Junji Ito Story Collection ✏ Purchase
Hardcover edition released in October 2018. Combines volumes 9 and 16 of THWOJI (Hallucinasions and Frankenstein), but does not include the short A Shit to Remember.
Child of Love and Light Mary Shelley: Born to be a feminist BY RONA BERG “I perceived in the gloom a figure which stole from behind a clump of trees near me; I stood fixed, gazing intently: I could not be mistaken. A flash of lightning illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy dæmon, to whom I had given life. What did he there? Could he be (I shuddered at the conception) the murderer of my brother? No sooner did that idea cross my imagination, than I became convinced of its truth; my teeth chattered, and I was forced to lean against a tree for support. The figure passed me quickly, and I lost it in the gloom.” —From Frankenstein by Mary Shelley When Lord Byron came to visit Mary and Percy Shelley for an extended stay in Pisa, the English press hordes followed. They came to dig up dirt on the eccentricities and escapades of Byron, who was an infamous rake—and the rock star of his time. In the spirit of modern-day tabloids like the Star or the National Enquirer, the salacious early 19th century press referred to the trio as “the League of Incest and Atheism.” One has to admit, it’s a pretty good name for the boys (and girl!) in that particular band. Never mind that it wasn’t quite true, though partly it was. Everything the Romantics did was fodder for the tabloids. English society was scandalized by their behavior—children born out of wedlock, free love, a belief in an “outspoken and honest exchange of ideas” between the sexes, according to Mary, which was shocking in 1821. Although the gossips of the day judged the writers harshly (especially Mary, because she was a woman), they found the group’s alleged antics ever titillating, and in the true spirit of hypocrisy, they hung on every detail. And if it wasn’t all true, well, when did that ever stop anyone? Byron may have been the rock star, but it was Mary who suffered throughout her life as the target of sexist attacks that vilified her for not standing down to men. They struck at the heart of what was most humiliating in those days, and speculation ran wild: Was Mary sleeping with Byron and Percy Shelley? Was Claire Clairmont, Mary’s stepsister, who lived with the Shelleys on and off through the years, the third wheel in a ménage à trois? Whose babies did Mary give birth to, really? Were they Percy Shelley’s—or Byron’s? (They were Shelley’s.) Claire had a baby girl with Byron, and the gossips murmured that she was Percy Shelley’s baby too. https://bit.ly/3pB2TYg Post link
Elle Fanning’s new film Mary Shelley will be at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 in September and will also have its premiere there. Mary Shelley also stars Douglas Booth, Bel Powley, Tom Sturridge, Maisie Williams and Stephen Dillane.
just saw a man on Goodreads calling Mary Shelley “a privileged rich girl” – and yeah, no fucking shit? are you braindead?
most of the authors who wrote classic pieces were rich, from good families – but for some clouded, mysterious reason I have never seen a man using this as a single reason to dislike old male authors. and of course, there’s nothing of the sort about anyone else on his profile. so this stupid, pathetic, illiterate little man felt terribly compelled to deem a novel which basically FOUNDED science fiction as irrelevant because Mary Shelley – born at the time where women were considered intellectually inferior – received a formal education from her father & mother. die.
Wollstonecraft is often cited as the mother of what we today call feminism. Her book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is a foundational text in early feminist philosophy.
In addition to being one of the mothers of modern feminism, Wollstonecraft was also the mother of the renowned writer Mary Shelley. Sadly, Wollstonecraft would die just ten days after giving birth to young Mary, “leaving behind the foundation for the next two centuries of humanity’s model of gender equality.” Mary Shelley would come to know her mother through her writings, even learning to read partly by tracing the letters on Wollstonecraft’s gravestone.
Wollstonecraft would leave behind an unfinished manuscript where she wrote these words: “Always appear what you are, and you will not pass through existence without enjoying its genuine blessings, love and respect.”
‘Recourse To Death’ by Bernie Wrightson, from the illustrated edition of 'Frankenstein’ written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, published in 1983.
12" x 18" fine art giclee print on acid-free natural watercolour paper, with archival Epson Ultrachrome ink, in a numbered and embossed limited edition of 300 for $50.
The artist’s share of the proceeds from this sale will go to Bernie’s widow, Liz Wrightson.
Things I’m looking forward to tumblr discovering to when a Frankenstein book club eventually happens:
-Frankenstein not being a doctor -Frankenstein is just a huge alchemy dork -Frankenstein showed up at a fancy German university at age 17 carrying his alchemy books and wearing his “ASK ME ABOUT ALCHEMY” t-shirt and riding his car with a “HONK IF YOU LOVE CORNELIUS AGRIPPA” bumper sticker on it and his philosophy professor took one look at him and IMMEDIATELY told him to fuck off -Frankenstein went home in a huff mumbling about professor Krempe’s stupid voice and stupid face and stupid philosophy degree under his breath -the surprise incest subplot
Here’s three queer women to learn about to help you celebrate the day:
English author Mary Shelley pioneered the sci-fi genre when she wrote Frankenstein at just 19.
American writer and activist Audre Lorde fought for women who, like her, were excluded from mainstream feminism, whether because of class, race, sexuality, or disability.
Maryam Khatoon Molkara campaigned for decades for the recognition of trans people in Iranian law, eventually securing a fatwa (Islamic ruling) from the leader of Iran himself.
Vote for this to be on a t-shirt and sold at Hot Topic! Plus I’d get paid for my art! Vote once a day, voting ends August 10th! Happy haunting! See you on the other side followers!
