Wilson library holds thousands of books with many different copies and adaptations of books creating a collection hold multiple rare and unique books. Upon our visit to Wilson Library multiple different adaptations of Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes and Robinson Crusoe were on display. These adaptations came in the form of comic books of Sherlock Holmes’ adventures, travel sized versions of Robinson Crusoe and large, decorative versions of Frankenstein. Out of the different versions and adaptations shown off my favorite was the large, decorative version of Frankenstein portrayed with delicate pictures, fancy formatting, rarity of print, and a very interesting story.
The story of Victor Frankenstein and his monster is one of science and mystery portraying how a single man creates life from the pieces of human remains. Written by Mary Shelly in 1818, the story of Frankenstein’s monster focuses on Victor as he works through creating the monster then the fallout of what he has created. While talking to Frankenstein the monster says: “Listen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature” (Shelly 69). This perfectly shows the conflict Victor faces about what he did in creating the creature who becomes his monster. The reader sees the creature go from Frankenstein’s process of the creation to an innocent being to a monster tormenting Victor for revenge. The terror and science of the story makes it one of the first science fiction novels to be created helping to make it immensely popular at the time of its creation unlike other books of the time.
While the novel creates an interesting, science fiction story, the way the book is presented gives it even more splendor. One of the 1818 editions held in Wilson Library is one printed only 350 times with special print and pictures designed to give the story of Frankenstein’s monster a creative and artistic feel. Pictures of different scenes are scattered throughout the book each created by hand in black and white using hand craved templates. The print was created using the print press method, originally used before the creation of digital printers, giving a more unique feel to work alongside the word design which forms in a downward triangle. The delicate features and rarity of this adaptation of Frankenstein partner with the story to create a unique experience meant to give the reader a much different feel than the original story of Frankenstein.