Frankenstein – The Modern Prometheus
Frankenstein (also known as Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus) is a famous book written by Mary Shelley. It’s one of the most important stories ever told in English literature. People know it as a scary story, or horror fiction, but it’s also one of the first science fiction stories ever written.
In this fun and easy guide, you’ll learn more about the book Frankenstein, get a simple summary of the story, and even find out how to read or download it for free! The good news is – the book is now in the public domain, which means anyone can read it without paying.
About Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein a long time ago, and it was published in 1818. She was very young—only between 18 and 20 years old—when she wrote it! At first, her name wasn’t on the book because it was published anonymously. People didn’t know she wrote it until a new version came out in 1821.
The idea for the book came during a fun challenge. Mary Shelley, her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, and their friend Lord Byron had a little contest. They each tried to write the best spooky story. Mary’s story, Frankenstein, turned out to be the most famous of them all!
What Happens in Frankenstein? – A Simple Summary
The main character is a man named Victor Frankenstein. He’s a scientist who wants to do something amazing. So, he creates a living creature from different body parts. But when the creature comes to life, it looks so strange and scary that Victor and other people run away from it.
The creature feels sad and lonely because no one loves him or wants to be his friend. This makes him angry. The story tells us what happens next—how the creature tries to get back at Victor and how Victor feels guilty about what he’s done.
The story is told like a frame story. That means it’s a story inside another story. It begins with a man named Captain Robert Walton, who writes letters to his sister. In his letters, he tells us about Victor Frankenstein. Then Victor shares his side of the story. Later, even the creature gets to speak and share how he feels.
Even though the creature hurts people, the book shows that he’s not just a monster. He is also kind and smart. He wants to be loved, but when no one loves him, he becomes angry and sad.
The story takes place in the 1700s, based on the dates in the letters. The creature lives alone in the forest at first. People are scared of him because of how he looks, so he hides from them.
Who Was Mary Shelley?
Mary Shelley was born in 1797. Her mom died when she was just a baby, so she grew up with her dad. She later married the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816.
That same year, Mary started working on a short story, which became the book Frankenstein. Even though Frankenstein is her most famous book, she wrote other important stories too, like The Last Man, which is about a sad future world. Mary Shelley is remembered for writing spooky, creative stories. She is an important figure in Romanticism, Gothic literature, science fiction, and horror writing.
Famous Quotes from Frankenstein
Here are some powerful quotes from the book:
These quotes show the deep feelings of the creature—how he wants love but feels anger when no one cares about him.
How to Read Frankenstein Online for Free
Since Mary Shelley died a long time ago, Frankenstein is now in the public domain. That means anyone can read, download, or even listen to it for free.
Here are some great places where you can read or download the book:
📘 Read Frankenstein on Project Gutenberg
This is a free online library of books that are no longer under copyright.
👉 Visit: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/84
You can choose from many formats like PDF, HTML, ePUB, or plain text. Pick the one that works best on your computer, tablet, or phone!
📘 Read Frankenstein on ManyBooks
Here’s another link to read it online:
👉 Visit: https://manybooks.net/book/165040/read#epubcfi(/6/2[item7]!/4/2/1:0)
📘 Download Frankenstein from Internet Archive
You can read the book in your browser or download it in PDF or ePUB format. You can even have it read aloud to you!
👉 Visit: https://archive.org/stream/ghostseer01schiuoft?ref=ol
🎧 Listen to the Audiobook on LibriVox
Do you like listening to stories? You can hear Frankenstein for free in MP3 format.
👉 Visit: https://librivox.org/frankenstein-or-the-modern-prometheus-1818-by-mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/
Final Thoughts
Frankenstein is more than just a scary monster story. It’s about feelings, choices, and what it means to be human. Even young readers can enjoy learning about this amazing book. Whether you read it, listen to it, or just explore the story, Frankenstein will take you on an unforgettable adventure!
Let your imagination come alive—just like Victor’s creature did! 🧠⚡📚