Balckwell’s Books is back after a brief delay to bring you Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. I attempt to turn back time and reckon with the book without taking into account the centuries of adaptations and modifications, which ends up being quite easy since I haven’t seen any of them, save half of Kenneth Branagh’s strange film.

Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus is a chaotic novel, featuring characters that wear their emotions on their sleeves, full of the sort of impassioned anguish and torment that you just don’t find outside of the Gothic tradition. I try to understand these characters, and offer some insight into what their problems really are, as well as how they reflect Shelley’s experiences in life. I also take a look at how the book portrays the relationship between modern and pre-modern science, and its unique take on the Prometheus myth.

Next month’s book will be Demian by Herman Hesse, a classic German novel about a young man trying to forge a meaningful life in the ever-changing modern world. Look forward to it!

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