A young idealistic student neglects his family and friends for an obsessive quest to harness the power of life itself. Victor Frankenstein’s desperate struggle to escape the unintended consequences of his success comes to take over his life. Mary Shelley’s novel is more than the horror story of a brutish monster made famous in the movies. It is an insightful and disturbing gothic novel that encompasses philosophy, religion, science fiction, and psychological horror that has resonated with two centuries of readers. Keynote Classics™ unabridged classic literature feature a no-spoiler Introductory Key, explanatory footnotes, and wide margins for note-taking to help readers get more from their reading experience, and remember, discuss, or write more confidently about classic literature.

Annotated Keynote Classics begin with an Introductory Key to the work with hints about what to look for to find deeper meaning. Unlike other literature study guides, they contain no spoilers and don’t specify themes, motifs, and symbols found in the novel. Instead, they point out general ideas and things to pay attention to that help you find your own interpretations. Footnotes help foster understanding, and historical context about the author and the prevailing culture provides important perspective. Questions are provided at the end to help inspire discussion or essay topics. Teachers recommend that you read actively and engage with the text to help you draw on your own knowledge and experience to get more out of a novel. Keynote Classics™ paperbacks provide more space in the margins for writing down thoughts, connections, and interpretations as you read.