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Vault of Frankenstein: 200 Years of the World's Most Famous Monster

by Paul Ruditis

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1441,433,251 (4.38)None
The Vault of Frankenstein traces the incredible history of how the nameless abomination in Shelley's classic novel became a pop culture icon. Removable replica memorabilia--Shelley's manuscript pages, movie posters, a playbill, and a photograph of Boris Karloff on set for the iconic 1931 portrayal of the character--add an interactive element to this amazing retrospective. Beginning with the story of how Mary Shelley first conceived of the novel (on a stormy night on the shores of Lake Geneva), The Vault of Frankensteintraces the Creature's evolution from nameless literary character to international superstar, appearing in films, TV shows, comic books, and commercial merchandise. Frankenstein's monster has been a hero and a villain, in both comedies and dramas. He hastap danced with Gene Wilder, held a daisy by a stream, and even appeared on cereal boxes. With special attention placed on the 1931 film that lifted Frankenstein's monster to a new level of stardom, this book explores the many facets of this enduring--and often tragically misunderstood--character. Fantastic replica memorabilia--enclosed in an elegantly designed envelope inside the back cover--bring the history to even more vivid life as you hold it in your hands: The Bride of Frankenstein movie poster Pages from Mary Shelley's original manuscript of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus Photo of Boris Karloff on the set of Universal's Frankenstein Playbill for Presumption; or The Fate of Frankenstein, the first stage adaptation of  Frankenstein Frankenstein movie poster Relive the Creature's greatest pop culture moments in this new retrospective that commemorates the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's masterpiece.… (more)
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Showing 4 of 4
I love tales about monsters! Frankenstein has been one of my favorite classic monsters ever since I watched the old black and white movies with my dad as a child. I grew to love the character even more when I read the book that started it all. I have to admit I didn't read the classic book by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley until I was in college. I first came to enjoy the character based on all the cheesy monster movies, scary tales and pop culture references that morphed out of her tale. I have since read the book many, many times and love both the original character and the more Holllywood version.

The book Vault of Frankenstein traces the history of the character from the book's publication in 1818 through all the related novels, plays, movies and pop culture references. Frankenstein's monster has grown from a monstrous creation that didn't even have a name to a pop culture force all its own.

This book is just awesome! Not only does it give detailed facts about Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the book, the history of the character, the films, related novels and plays, actors who played the monster, and the pop culture history of the character, but the book is filled with many amazing illustrations and photos as well. I love how there are pictures of everything from Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's original hand written manuscript pages to Frankenstein themed postage stamps.

I have always loved the fact that the book grew out of a bet among friends during a boring, rainy summer in 1816. I wonder what Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley would think about the amazing journey her character has taken over the past 200 years? I think she would be impressed that the monster has taken on a life of its own....just like in the book. Just a bit less lonely and hopeless.

This is a beautiful book! After reading a review copy, I immediately ordered a copy for our keeper shelf. As a lover of classic monsters, I just had to have this book. The facts and descriptions are so interesting and the photos are awesome! Definitely full stars from this Frankenstein fan!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Quarto Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )
  JuliW | Nov 22, 2020 |
We are quickly approaching the 200 year anniversary of a novel written as a part of a challenge by a British woman staying in a castle on Lake Geneva. Mary Shelley's little project has become one of the most recognized characters in the twentieth and twenty-first century. The novel floated around with classic literature of the period without making a huge wave until Universal Studios' full-length movie in 1931. Since that time the Monster has appeared in numerous films and just about every form of entertainment from cartoons (Frankenstein Jr and Scooby Doo), an Aurora model kit, Lurch from the Addams Family and Herman Munster, and even the X-Files. Although these modern interpretations drift from the original storyline, many newer versions try to stick closer to the original in the story of themes such as the series Penny Dreadful. His fame has not been limited to America. A rather comical looking giant Frankenstein monster joins the Japanese monster collection battling a Godzilla-like monster.

The Vault of Frankenstein will give the reader a detailed history of the creature in all his variations. Today's along with last century's version of the monster have changed quite a bit. Shelley would never have dreamt that her monster would meet the Wolfman, Abbot, and Costello, or grace the box of breakfast cereal. She would also be surprised to find that there was an Igor (or "eye-gor" in Mel Brooks version) or the movies most quoted line "It's Alive" was never written in the novel. In fact, the creation of the monster itself is under-represented in the book compared to the movies.

The Vault of Frankenstein is filled with photographs and memorabilia of Frankenstein's creation. Photos of Shelley's original writing, movie posters, photographs of the actors who played the creature, and various items and props are included in the pages of the book. The book includes all outgrowth that is influenced by the creature's fame -- from the Monster Mash to postage stamps. A well written and illustrated history of a cultural icon.
( )
  evil_cyclist | Mar 16, 2020 |
This book features a lot of great pictures of all incarnations of the Frankenstein monster, but after a good start, it sort of rattles on and on and is a bit repetitive toward the end, making the same point over and over. It could do with a bit better organization as well. The author's analysis, thank goodness, doesn't get into deep, dark psychobabble--but it doesn't offer a lot of new insight either. It is certainly interesting, however, to see all the permutations the story has had over the years, and this brought me up to date with some of the ones I had missed since I stopped watching a lot of monster movies and reading comic books. ( )
  datrappert | Jan 15, 2020 |
Vault of Frankenstein by Paul Ruditis takes the reader from the earliest, mere inkling of the iconic Frankenstein, when it was but an idea in Shelley's mind, through to the enduring legacy still vibrantly alive today. This is the charting of a legend, the mark of an outstanding story. Centuries on, the book and characters continue to inspire new adaptations, in all manner of media, showing how our interpretations change via the lens of culture and social values. My favourite has to be National Theatre's Frankenstein play starring Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch, who took it in turns to play both Victor and his Creature. That version focused on the Creature's story, what it means to be abandoned as a child. I don't recall seeing it mentioned in this book though, which was a bit of a disappointment. This book is a great treasure for any who love Shelley's original book, the myriad adaptations, or are a classic horror buff in general. I enjoyed the digital ARC enough that I've ordered a hard copy!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )
  PardaMustang | Dec 26, 2018 |
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The Vault of Frankenstein traces the incredible history of how the nameless abomination in Shelley's classic novel became a pop culture icon. Removable replica memorabilia--Shelley's manuscript pages, movie posters, a playbill, and a photograph of Boris Karloff on set for the iconic 1931 portrayal of the character--add an interactive element to this amazing retrospective. Beginning with the story of how Mary Shelley first conceived of the novel (on a stormy night on the shores of Lake Geneva), The Vault of Frankensteintraces the Creature's evolution from nameless literary character to international superstar, appearing in films, TV shows, comic books, and commercial merchandise. Frankenstein's monster has been a hero and a villain, in both comedies and dramas. He hastap danced with Gene Wilder, held a daisy by a stream, and even appeared on cereal boxes. With special attention placed on the 1931 film that lifted Frankenstein's monster to a new level of stardom, this book explores the many facets of this enduring--and often tragically misunderstood--character. Fantastic replica memorabilia--enclosed in an elegantly designed envelope inside the back cover--bring the history to even more vivid life as you hold it in your hands: The Bride of Frankenstein movie poster Pages from Mary Shelley's original manuscript of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus Photo of Boris Karloff on the set of Universal's Frankenstein Playbill for Presumption; or The Fate of Frankenstein, the first stage adaptation of  Frankenstein Frankenstein movie poster Relive the Creature's greatest pop culture moments in this new retrospective that commemorates the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's masterpiece.

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