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Frankenstein

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About this listen

Frankenstein, first published in 1818, is widely recognised as being one of the first 'science fiction' novels. Starring Michael Maloney as Frankenstein and John Wood as the Creature, this spine-tingling dramatisation perfectly conveys the book's pervasive sense of unease and dread.

Victor Frankenstein, an ambitious young scientist and seeker after knowledge, considers it the pinnacle of his career when he makes a Creature in his own name. But his triumph soon turns to horror, and he is appalled when the Creature, denied a female counterpart, turns against his creator and commits a terrible crime. In a desperate attempt to destroy his creation, the scientist tracks him from Europe to the desolate North Pole, and in this bleak landscape of ice and fog, prepares to confront his nemesis...

©2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd; (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd Classics Entertainment & Performing Arts Fantasy Genre Fiction Horror Literary Fiction

Critic reviews

wonderful retelling of the timeless, classic story. The acting is uniformly impressive, as are the sound effects. (Nick Smithson)
All stars
Most relevant
Victor Frankenstein’s voice actor goes all out as the once inquisitive scientist hungry for knowledge reduced to a nervous obsessive wreck by the horror of his creation. He plays his role with devoted, gut wrenching zeal that fully sells the role, and perhaps more authentic to the character to the books perhaps than the more romantic and sensual portrayal by Kenneth Branagh.
The monster is voiced well, but is perhaps voiced too monstrously. I speak with the bias of having seen the sympathetic portrayal of the beast in the latest play from
National Theatre with the monster being played by Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller in both versions respectively and from having read the book in my childhood which made me feel for the monster, even when his spurning by humanity drives him to commit horrific deeds in retaliation for his hurt. Perhaps the expectation I had in mind was the more romantic version, with the monster being a scarred Neanderthal Lucifer hybrid esque portrayal as the book would have him be instead of a misshapen and deformed wretch that he is more commonly portrayed as, like De Niro’s portrayal for example.
I rate the story three stars because the transition between Frankenstein’s morbid curiosity to him assembling his creation is very abrupt, with no segment of him morally questioning himself as he robs graves for the body parts he needs to assemble the monster. There are still scenes of lengthy discourse which I might recall from the book, and the adaptation stays true to the book in several other places as well.
This was still an immersive audio play with background noises that made me check over my shoulder while walking. I finished this in about one night and one morning so ideally this is a book for a long train ride rather than a week long listen.

Abbreviated a fair amount but a decent adaptation

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An amazing performance from the narrators kept me listening to this till the end, such powerful performances. 5 stars all the way from me😊

Brilliant narration

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This is a great dramatization with the kind of production quality you'd expect from the BBC. The voice acting is well worked, with particular worthy mention going to James Wood as the monster.

Usual BBC quality production.

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