Mary Shelley's Frankensteinis the world's most notorious and widely read Gothic novel. It has also been heralded as both the first modern horror novel and the first science fiction novel. More important than either is the novel's mythical status in society. The rich subtext of Frankenstein and the vast number of readings it can inspire have contributed to the novel's continued success after nearly two hundred years. This edition of Frankensteinuses Mary Shelley's definitive 1831 text and incorporates several critical essays on Frankenstein, discussing its rich symbolism and place in world literature. There is also a valuable bibliography, Mary Shelley's original introduction to the 1831 edition, Percy Shelley's original preface, and more. This is the definitive edition of Frankenstein, perfect for the trade and indispensable for scholarly use.