|
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
|
Frankenstein
|
|
, or the modern Prometheus (1818) The story which has inspired so many horror films was written by the 19-year-old Mary *Shelley as part of a ghost-story competition, organized by *Byron when he and the Shelleys were staying together in Switzerland. Frankenstein is a Swiss scientist who creates an artificial man of great strength. The original story is more subtle than its imitators because it is largely about the monster's need for affection. It is his rage, when denied a mate of his own kind, which causes him to chase Frankenstein to the Arctic and to murder him there before walking off into the frozen wastes.
The story was filmed several times in the early days of the cinema, but first became a cult after the 1931 version with Boris *Karloff.
|
|
|
|