One of the best books I read last year was Frankenstein: A Cultural History by Susan Tyler Hitchcock. Really captivating overview of the phenomenon that is Frankenstein's Monster, with thoughtful and thought-provoking insights into the shifting pop culture that continues to remake the thing in it's own image. I was particularly fascinated with Mary Shelly's personal history and it's relationship to the novel, and by the feminist connections to the work and it's final acceptance as 'good' gothic literature. I think it's a terrific companion piece to David J. Skal's work... and highly recommend it to Monsterama readers. "This is our monster," writes Susan Tyler Hitchcock. "To know him is to know ourselves." More from the publisher...
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
It's Alive! And it's a good read!
One of the best books I read last year was Frankenstein: A Cultural History by Susan Tyler Hitchcock. Really captivating overview of the phenomenon that is Frankenstein's Monster, with thoughtful and thought-provoking insights into the shifting pop culture that continues to remake the thing in it's own image. I was particularly fascinated with Mary Shelly's personal history and it's relationship to the novel, and by the feminist connections to the work and it's final acceptance as 'good' gothic literature. I think it's a terrific companion piece to David J. Skal's work... and highly recommend it to Monsterama readers. "This is our monster," writes Susan Tyler Hitchcock. "To know him is to know ourselves." More from the publisher...
