《Frankenstein》Mary Shelley电子书txt下载、在线阅读、内容简介、评论读后感-当当读书

内容简介

Part of the Whole Story series, this is the full text of Mary Shelley's classic gothic story, which was first published in 1818 and has been a wild success ever since. Philippe Munch's illustrations have none of the power of Barry Moser's unforgettable woodcuts that evoke the loneliness of the grotesque outsider (in the Pennyroyal edition published by the University of California Press in 1984). The design here is crowded, and the type is small. However, the many period prints and maps in color and in black and white, with long, detailed captions, do provide the historical setting for the story, its geography, customs, and ideas. Teens enthralled by pop versions of the myth as well as science fiction fans will be interested in going back to the full version of what has been called the first science fiction novel and learning about the circumstances under which it was written by a woman, just 18 years old, 170 years ago. 英国诗人雪莱的妻子玛丽·雪莱创作的小说，被认为是西方文学中的部真正意义上的“科学幻想小说”。初出版于1818年，较为普及的版本是1831年印行的第三版，属于受到浪漫主义影响的哥特小说。后世学者认为这篇小说可视为恐怖小说或科幻小说的起源。小说的原译名为弗兰肯斯坦，也就是故事中的疯狂医生，因为以科学的方式将死尸复活，所以翻译为科学怪人。 Here is the classic novel of supreme horror that has held readers spellbound since its publication in 1816. This new edition will also feature an examination of the films inspired by Shelley's groundbreaking work, plus a fascinating look into genetic engineering and the modern implications of this immortal tale. 主人公弗兰肯斯坦是一位从事人的生命科学研究的学者，他力图用人工创造出生命。在他的实验室里，通过无数次的探索，他创造了一个面目可憎，奇丑无比的怪物。开始时，这人造的怪物秉性善良，对人充满了善意和感恩之情。他要求他的创造者和人们给予他人生的种种权利，甚至要求为他创造一个配偶。但是，当他处处受到他的创造者和人们的嫌恶和岐视时，他感到非常痛苦。他憎恨一切，他想毁灭一切。他杀害了弗兰肯斯坦的弟弟威廉，他又企图谋害弗兰肯斯坦的未婚妻伊丽莎白。弗兰肯斯坦怀着满腔怒火追捕他所创造的恶魔般的怪物。后，在搏斗中，弗兰肯斯坦和怪物同归于尽。本书揭示了作者的哲学观点。她认为人具有双重性格——善与恶。长期受人嫌恶、岐视和迫害会使人变得邪恶而干出种种坏事，甚至发展到不可收拾的地步。它还为英语添加了一个新的单词Frankenstein，一个终毁了它的创造者的东西。弗兰肯斯坦已成为好莱坞经典的形象之一。Mary Shelley was inspired to write Frankenstein after Lord Byron arranged a ghost story competition during a vacation holiday. 玛丽·雪莱（MaryShelley）英国著名小说家，因其创作的文学史上部科幻小说《弗兰肯斯坦》（或译《科学怪人》），而被誉为科幻小说之母。她是英国著名浪漫主义诗人雪莱的妻子。"The select bibliography by M.K. Joseph is of benefit to our students."--Dr. Darlene J. Alberts, LETTER 1To Mrs. Saville, England St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17--You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday; and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare, and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.I am already far north of London; and as I walk in the streets of Petersburgh, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight. Do you understand this feelingThis breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which I am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes. Inspirited by this wind of promise, my day dreams become more fervent and vivid. I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight. There, Margaret, the sun is for ever visible, its broad disk just skirting the horizon, and diffusing a perpetual splendour. There--for with your leave, my sister, I will put some trust in preceding navigators--there snow and frost are banished; and, sailing over a calm sea, we may be wafted to a land surpassing in wonders and in beauty every region hitherto discovered on the habitable globe. Its productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes. What may not be expected in a country of eternal lightI may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle; and may regulate a thousand celestial observations, that require only this voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever. I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man. These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fear of danger or death, and to induce me to commence this laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery up his native river. But, supposing all these conjectures to be false, you cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation, by discovering a passage near the pole to those countries, to reach which at present so many months are requisite; or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet, which, if at all possible, can only be effected by an undertaking such as mine.These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my letter, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven; for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose--a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years. I have read with ardour the accounts of the various voyages which have been made in the prospect of arriving at the North Pacific Ocean through the seas which surround the pole. You may remember that a history of all the voyages made for purposes of discovery composed the whole of our good uncle Thomas's library. My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading. These volumes were my study day and night, and my familiarity with them increased that regret which I had felt, as a child, on learning that my father's dying injunction had forbidden my uncle to allow me to embark in a seafaring life.These visions faded when I perused, for the first time, those poets whose effusions, entranced my soul, and lifted it to heaven. I also became a poet, and for one year lived in a Paradise of my own creation; I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated. You are well acquainted with my failure, and how heavily I bore the disappointment. But just at that time I inherited the fortune of my cousin, and my thoughts were turned into the channel of their earlier bent.Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, even now, remember the hour from which I dedicated myself to this great enterprise. I commenced by inuring my body to hardship. I accompanied the whale-fishers on several expeditions to the North Sea; I voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep; I often worked harder than the common sailors during the day, and devoted my nights to the study of mathematics, the theory of medicine, and those branches of physical science from which a naval adventure might derive the greatest practical advantage. Twice I actually hired myself as an under-mate in a Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration. I must own I felt a little proud, when my captain offered me the second dignity in the vessel and intreated me to remain with the greatest earnestness so valuable did he consider my services.And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purposeMy life might have been passed in ease and luxury; but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path. Oh, that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative! My courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed. I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, the emergencies of which will demand all my fortitude: I am required not only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my own, when theirs are failing.This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia. They fly quickly over the snow in their sledges; the motion is pleasant, and, in my opinion, far more agreeable than that of an English stage-coach. The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapped in furs--a dress which I have already adopted; for there is a great difference between walking the deck and remaining seated motionless for hours, when no exercise prevents the blood from actually freezing in your veins. I have no ambition to lose my life on the post-road between St Petersburgh and Archangel.I shall depart for the latter town in a fortnight or three weeks; and my intention is to hire a ship there, which can easily be done by paying the insurance for the owner, and to engage as many sailors as I think necessary among those who are accustomed to the whale-fishing. I do not intend to sail until the month of June; and when shall I returnAh, dear sister, how can I answer this questionIf I succeed, many, many months, perhaps years, will pass before you and I may meet. If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never.Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret. Heaven shower down blessings on you, and save me, that I may again and again testify my gratitude for all your love and kindness.Your affectionate brother, R. Walton…

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