Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Frankenstein

By: Mary Shelley
Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.52

Buy for $25.52

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The tale of Dr. Frankenstein and the horrendous monster he unleashes on the world when he tinkers with the laws of nature had almost as strange a birth as the monster itself. It was the product of one of the most famous ghost story telling sessions in history. Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley and several others were stranded on the shores of Lake Geneva during a particularly sodden summer. They challenged each other to come up with the most ghastly and soul-rending story their sizable literary talents could muster, and the hands-down winner came from Shelley's wife - Mary Shelley.

The novel that emerged several years later has been recognised as one of the most chilling and gruesome horror stories ever written, and it is certainly one of the most famous. It's a moving account of a battle for independence, it's a warning against man's pride in his ability to change the world with his blind pursuit of science, it's a story of revolt and revenge and, most intriguingly, it was one of the first novels to be written where the narrator is not necessarily a reliable witness, and we are left to carve the truth of the matter out for ourselves.

This is an alarming book - in several very enjoyable ways.

Author Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1797-1851) was a novelist, dramatist, essayist, biographer and travel writer. She is, however, best known for her Gothic horror novel Frankenstein: or, the Modern Prometheus, published 1818. She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Public Domain (P)2008 Silksoundbooks Limited
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Frankenstein

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    173
  • 4 Stars
    60
  • 3 Stars
    21
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    196
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    153
  • 4 Stars
    57
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the standard for a classic.

an amazing story. and the narrator does an amazing job bringing the story to life. I would recommend that everyone read this book if you haven't already.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant book

I’m teaching this book next week and really enjoyed listening to it this time. Derek Jacobi is a fine narrator, as well as a great actor. And May Shelley covers numerous themes: the amorality of science, parenting, God, Romanticism, violence, and many, many more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Expertly narrated

As fine a performance of this classic as could be possibly hope for. Very well done, indeed. Jacoby's ability to easily switch dialects really hits hardest when reading the Monster. A riveting listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not a Frankenstein fan, but…

I read “Frankenstein” years ago. I had to force myself to finish after two previously failed attempts. It’s a classic so everyone should read it right? Wrong! I do not feel my life has been improved in any way by the reading of this book. It certainly did not bring me joy.
That baking said, I do appreciate the story much more having listened to Sir Derek Jacobi’s narration. He is the only reason I downloaded this audiobook. Jacobi has been a favorite actor of mine for years so I naturally gravitate to anything with his name on it.
Jacobi’s narration is superb and brings life and passion to Shelley’s tale that I found lacking on the printed page. If you must expose yourself to “Frankenstein” then I recommend this audiobook performance rather than reading it for yourself.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Derek Jacobi is a god

Derek Jacobi is a god and I will listen to any audio book he narrates.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Audio

So sad to have finished this!! Love this audio and Jacobi was sensational. Gripping and addictive!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

5 Stars

I absolutely love this book. The performance is compelling and the tale is 100% timeless.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant and haunting

I am so impressed with the performance and the brilliant, well developed writing and narrative arcs cautionary and prescient tale about hubris and consequence, the arrogation of female reproduction without female care, compassion, and bonding. The tragedy of the unmothered and rejected. In the spirit of the times, Frankenstein couldn’t mother his creation. He could not even name him. The systematic destruction of the innate nobility of the monster’s soul is painful and allegorical of the dehumanization of the impoverished and rejected of those in all societies.

I am moved and saddened. IMHO, there was beauty and nobility on both sides. Young Mary Shelley created a worthy masterpiece ,

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Frankenstein Drinking Game

Drink every time the word "countenance" is spoken. Good luck.
Also it's a brilliant story with a lovely voice actor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Jacobi rocks

Derek Jacobi is masterful. Frankenstein is a masterpiece. This recording should be studied by all actors.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful