As the World Wide Web perhaps already knows both through my incessant posts about and allusions to this book, I love Frankenstein. No need to repeat myself again. See my many other posts on this book. Today, I will share my different editions of the novel, why I like them, and why I will never get rid of them. I typically draw the line at 2 copies of the same book when I have a favourite, just because of my limited space and the fact that I should probably be saving this money, but nothing can stop me once I see a new edition of Frankenstein. I just bought two in the last week, so I think it is finally time I address the issue and offer clarity to those who may simply not understand why having so many editions of one book matters (cough, my mother).
#1 AppleBooks’ Frankenstein – Free
This barely counts in my collection, but it is still my first edition of Frankenstein. While it would be nice to say that I read this story for the first time in a gold-embossed Peacock Edition, the stark reality is that it was the free Apple ebook edition that my eyes saw first. It did the job. No complaints. Great way to make this book accessible to everyone. Thank u for changing my life.
#2 Oxford World’s Classics’ Frankenstein: 1818 Text – $8.95
This is my first physical copy. It is a great amount of flimsy for a paperback. It is filled with post-its, notes in margins, and bent pages. I got this guy second-hand at a used bookstore. This is the edition I read the most, thrice on my own and once aloud to my mom. I love the cover choice too. This is L’Ange du Destin by Odilon Redon. I like how the Creature just seems to be sitting there waiting for acceptance, trying to look not so scary. The shade that hides the rest of his body also works to hide the fact that he is a scary tall scarred monster because of his posture and face, idk I feel bad for him.
#3 Canterbury Classic’ Classic Works from Women Writers – $33.99
This edition is in an anthology I got for Christmas in 2019. I don’t really care for it. The book itself is beautiful, but volume has bible-thin pages, size 10 font, and is a big brick to lug around. This is really a coffee table edition in my belief.
#4 Drover Publications’ 1994 Unabridged Edition – $4
When I stopped by my local used bookstore, I stumbled upon this this edition at the cash right as the cashier was taking it out of a donation box. I bought it before they had a chance to price it. I loved the cover because it reminded me so much of Victorian era marbled endpapers. It’s also green. I love her. Great price too.
#5 Simon & Schuster’s Gallery 13 Frankenstein with illustrations by Bernie Wrightson and introduction by Stephen King – $26.99
Easily one of my favourites out of my collection because it is my only illustrated edition and I love the work so much. I bought this one at Bull Moose in Bangor, Maine while visiting my grandparents and it was so fun to reread with the images on this drive home.
#6 HarperMuse’s Pretty Painted Edition with cover art by Laci Fowler – $39.99
I love the artwork and the sprayed edges on this one. It is a good size, my first hardcover (other than the Canterbury Classic) and it is oh so ever giving gothic vibes. Just picked up this one at Chapters last week.
#6 Chiltern Publishing Frankenstein – $32.99
You can’t see it in the photo, but this one is holographic. It’s the perfect size, and sturdy as hell. This is my latest addition to the collection and I think it is due time for a reread. I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes.
#7 Broadview Editions, Frankenstein: The original 1818 text
This is an edition I purchased in September of 2023 for my third-year English course, The Romantic Period II. I especially like this one since I felt no guilt purchasing it as it was a required book for school. This one was used for most of my referencing in essays. The cover of Broadview Editions are always so pretty, this one reminds me of the sublime that we studied in class, a new idea that has changed the way I read this story.
#8 Oxford World Classic, Frankenstein: 1818 Text (Ebook)
This is not an E-book I had anticipated purchasing. However, because I was doing some narrative quoting for the Romantics course I was taking, I figured it would be handy to have an E-book to search up keywords – especially since my creative project for this class was very heavily focused on language, emotions, and weather in the text. Unfortunately, my first Apple E-book is the 1830 text, and has many revisions that infringed on the project I was doing. Hence, I purchased the 1818 text in E-book format. Not sure what is going on with this cover, it is not giving enough spooky.
#9 Classical Comics, Frankenstein: The Graphic Novel
This is a graphic novel “Quick Text” adaptation I found at a thrift store in 2023. I was interested since this is a Middle Grade and accessible version of this story. I had also never heard of Quick Texts and the different variants. They offer orange editions for original text, purple for full-translated original text in Modern English, and green for shortened Modern English. I am personally not a fan of the graphics in this edition – I much prefer Bernie Wrightson’s illustrations. However, I think for children or newer readers this is a great format with enticing imagery. I am currently in the long process of trying to get my little brother to at least read this edition (he won’t).
#10 Oxford World Classic 2008 Reissue
This one is pretty much the same as my first Oxford World Classic; however, this one is the reissue. The cover image is enlarged and there is a new cover format. I got this one in like-new condition at the thrift. I really like the cover of the print Oxfords.
#11 Alma Clásicos Ilustrados
This is my first edition in another language! This was also purchased at a Spanish bookstore by me, who was speaking Spanish the whole time! I bought this book during my Experiential Learning Trip to Costa Rica. Nearby the group house in San José there was a mall with a bookstore. I went right before we left the city with the Experiential Learning Manager, Clara. Clara, if you ever come to read this, thank you for making the journey with me!
I am hoping that my Duolingo will one day pay off and I will be able to read the book in Spanish. This edition also has some amazing black-and-white illustrations – this one, in particular, is my favourite (shown above).
What I also enjoy about this edition is that it is the home to a bunch of random slips of paper and stickers (some shown in the picture above). I think this is something I will continue to do as I travel. It’s both a way for me to grow my collection and also have a house for all the random things we might throw away once we get home, like tickets, receipts, and information booklets. I can just pull this book down from my shelf and be reminded of my trip to Costa Rica!