A Fuzzy World Reading Collective

Washington Irving's classic tale of Ichabod Crane, the superstitious schoolmaster who arrives in the drowsy Dutch settlement of Tarry Town and sets his sights on Katrina Van Tassel and her father's fortune. His rival Brom Bones stands in his way, and the valley is haunted by the ghost of a Hessian trooper who rides in nightly search of his head. The complete story in a single reading. Read from the 1820 public domain edition.

Chapter 25 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein concludes the novel through Walton's letters. The creature appears at Victor's body and delivers his final monologue—a confession of remorse and degradation mixed with rage. He confesses that his murders brought only anguish, not joy. He declares he will end himself by building a funeral pyre in the Arctic and burning to ashes. He leaps into darkness and is lost forever in the frozen wastes. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.

Chapter 24 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein follows Victor's relentless pursuit of the creature across continents and Arctic ice. The creature leaves taunting messages along the way. Victor nearly catches him but ice splits between them. Victor nearly dies adrift until rescued by Walton's ship. He tells Walton his complete story, makes a final urgent request, and dies. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.

Chapter 23 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein presents the wedding-night tragedy. Elizabeth is strangled by the creature while Victor helplessly watches. The creature appears at the window, mocking Victor before escaping into the lake. Victor's father dies from the shock. Victor is imprisoned as mad. Released, he awakens only to revenge. The creature has won. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.

Chapter 22 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein follows Victor's return to Geneva. Elizabeth writes confessing her love but releasing him from obligation. Victor realizes the creature will strike on his wedding night. He agrees to marry Elizabeth in ten days and prepares with pistols and daggers, blind to the creature's true intent. The wedding journey to Evian is beautiful and terrible. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.

Chapter 21 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein follows Victor's arrest in Ireland, his discovery of Clerval's murder, and his two-month fever in prison. Mr. Kirwin shows unexpected kindness. Victor's father arrives. At trial, witnesses confirm Victor was in Scotland during the murder. He's acquitted but cannot rejoice—he's legally innocent but morally destroyed. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.

Chapter 20 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein presents the pivotal destruction scene. Victor realizes creating a female would doom humanity and tears her to pieces while the creature watches. The creature returns with his famous threat: "I will be with you on your wedding night." Victor disposes of the remains at sea but is blown to Ireland where he's arrested for murder. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.

Chapter 19 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein follows Victor and Clerval through England. They explore London, Windsor, Oxford, Matlock, and the Cumberland lakes. Clerval delights in beauty while Victor carries his burden. Victor finally abandons Clerval at Perth and isolates himself on the desolate Orkney Islands to begin creating the female creature in cold blood. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.

Chapter 18 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein follows Victor's reluctant journey to England. Unable to begin creating the female creature, he delays until his father proposes marriage to Elizabeth. Victor travels to England with Henry Clerval, touring the Rhine, London, and Oxford before isolating himself on a desolate Orkney island to begin his terrible work. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.

Chapter 17 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein presents the creature's demand for a female companion. Through eloquent reasoning and passionate appeals, the creature convinces Victor to create a mate. "I am malicious because I am miserable," he argues, promising peaceful exile if granted companionship. Victor reluctantly consents to his most abhorred task. Read from the 1818 public domain edition.