Frankenstein Lives
The Legacy of the World's Most Famous Monster
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
It’s alive! …Again! Frankenstein Lives brings to life the enduring legacy of Mary Shelley’s Creature in thrilling images and captivating commentary.
Beginning with the story of Mary Shelley’s conception of the novel on a stormy night on the shores of Lake Geneva, Frankenstein Lives traces the Creature’s transformation from a nameless literary monster to an international sensation, appearing in films, television shows, and commercial merchandise. The Creature has even appeared on a cereal box!
Frankenstein’s monster has been a hero and a villain, a star in both comedies and dramas. He has gone head-to-head with both Dracula and the Wolf Man, tap danced with Gene Wilder, joked around with Abbott and Costello, served as the butler for the Addams family, and continues to star in films today. With special attention placed on the 1931 film starring Boris Karloff staggering through the mad scientist’s laboratory, the book explores the classic—and often misunderstood—character. This visual guide includes photos of Shelley’s manuscript pages, Boris Karloff on set as the Creature in the 1931 film, and much more! Frankenstein Lives brings the history to life, including:
Mary Shelley’s background and inspirationFilm portrayals of Frankenstein’s monster, including upcoming film adaptionsCommercial merchandizing of the monster, including costumes and video gamesProfiles of the Bride, Igor, and DraculaAnd much more!
Relive the Creature’s greatest pop culture moments in this visually stunning and comprehensive guide to the green monster that we can’t stop loving.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Frankenstein's monster was a blank slate that grew and learned and created a life for itself," writes Ruditis (Battlestar Galactica Vault) in this fun and informative history of the character. Beginning with Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's inspiration for the story while staying in Switzerland in 1816, Ruditis recounts the novel's conception and the sensation it became. He covers the first ever adaptation of Shelley's novel written for the English stage in 1823 before turning his attention to film adaptations, including James Whale's famous 1931 film, in which Boris Karloff appears as the monster. Ruditis describes the development of the distinctive makeup for the creature, which became so iconic that Universal Studios and makeup artist Jack Pierce copyrighted it. The author also dives deep on Whale's 1935 sequel Bride of Frankenstein, details Hammer studio's B-movie cult classic films of the 1950s and '60s, and discusses more modern adaptations, including the "Frankenstein-esque" novel (and film) Poor Things. Ruditis's account is well paced, and he impressively demonstrates the far-ranging influence of Shelley's creation, taking note of its appearance in comic books, breakfast cereals, and Frankenstein-themed attractions at Universal Studios. Horror fans will appreciate this lively account.
