When looking for Frankenstein, 3rd Edition, there are two primary, highly regarded academic publications that instructors and students use. They differ significantly based on which historical text of Mary Shelley's class
...
When looking for Frankenstein, 3rd Edition, there are two primary, highly regarded academic publications that instructors and students use. They differ significantly based on which historical text of Mary Shelley's classic they use as their foundation. [1, 2]
1. Broadview Critical Edition (Uses the 1818 Text)
The Broadview Press Third Edition, edited by D.L. Macdonald and Kathleen Scherf, uses Mary Shelley's original 1818 text as its base. [1, 2]
- Text Selection: Many modern scholars prefer the 1818 version because it is closer to the raw, radical spirit of the Romantic era before Shelley's later revisions.
- What's Included: An appendix detailing all of Shelley's later 1831 structural changes.
- Key Update: This edition includes deep analyses regarding the level of contribution and collaboration from her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, on the original drafts. [1, 2, 3]
2. Bedford/St. Martin's Case Studies Edition (Uses the 1831 Text)
The Macmillan Learning/Bedford 3rd Edition, edited by Johanna M. Smith, uses the heavily revised 1831 text. [1, 2]
- Text Selection: The 1831 text is the version most commonly recognized by the public, introducing a more fatalistic view of Victor's ambition.
- Critical Essays: Features contemporary critical essays analyzing the novel through Psychoanalytic, Marxist, Feminist, Postcolonial, and Gender/Queer lenses.
- Key Update: Three completely new essays are added to this specific 3rd edition to reflect the past 15 years of academic discourse. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Feature Comparison
Feature [1, 2, 3]
Broadview Press 3rd Edition
Macmillan Bedford 3rd Edition
Base Text Used
Original 1818 version
Revised 1831 version
Primary Focus
Historical context & Percy Shelley's edits
Modern critical & theoretical essays
Target Audience
General readers, historical scholars
University literature students
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