Book Review: Vault of Frankenstein
By: Paul Ruditis
Published By: becker&mayer! Books
Publication Date: September 25, 2018
Page Count: 176
Page Count: 176
Source: eARC kindly provided by publisher
Nonfiction
Following on my Classics Reimagined Frankenstein review of last week, I also felt compelled to take a chance on Vault of Frankenstein: 200 Years of the World's Most Famous Monster. Covering the history of Mary Shelley's famous story, various adaptations and parodies, and including numerous drawings, picutres, and reproduction memorabilia, this book is a must have for all Frankenstein fans!
I was already familiar with Shelley's dreary 1816 trip to Geneva with her husband (Percy Bysshe Shelley) and their friend, Lord Byron, but I also discovered plenty about the legacy of Frankenstein that was new to me. I had no idea that Dracula (the 1931 movie) saved Universal Studios from a devastating year and made the funding of the classic Boris Karloff Frankenstein movie possible. Vault of Frankenstein also covers how the iconic Frankenstein look (flat head, scar and clamps) came to be. The book goes on to cover different evolutions of Frankenstein including The Bride of Frankenstein, and takes the reader on a tour through even more movies and TV series based on Frankenstein's monster.
From there, it is a short hop to Frankenstein-like creatures and themes showing up almost anywhere you look in pop culture. Ruditis shows is appearing in episodes of TV shows like The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Penny Dreadful. The monster can also be seen in more humorous incarnations such as Herman Munster (The Munsters) and Lurch (The Addams Family). Several movies even amp up the sexuality of the creature! And course Frankenstein's monster has been (re?)animated in several cartoons, and in a breakfast cereal.
What I enjoyed most about this Vault of Frankenstein is its comprehensiveness. It touches on every instance of Frankenstein from books, to plays, to movies, video games, comic books, music, and more. If you are into classic horror or pop culture, this book is definitely for you.
Summary:
Beginning with the story of how Mary Shelley first conceived of the novel (on a stormy night on the shores of Lake Geneva), The Vault of Frankenstein traces the Creature’s evolution from nameless literary character to international superstar, appearing in films, TV shows, comic books, and commercial merchandise.
Frankenstein’s monster has been a hero and a villain, in both comedies and dramas. He has tap danced with Gene Wilder, held a daisy by a stream, and even appeared on cereal boxes. With special attention placed on the 1931 film that lifted Frankenstein’s monster to a new level of stardom, this book explores the many facets of this enduring—and often tragically misunderstood—character.
Fantastic replica memorabilia—enclosed in an elegantly designed envelope inside the back cover—bring the history to even more vivid life as you hold it in your hands.
I was already familiar with Shelley's dreary 1816 trip to Geneva with her husband (Percy Bysshe Shelley) and their friend, Lord Byron, but I also discovered plenty about the legacy of Frankenstein that was new to me. I had no idea that Dracula (the 1931 movie) saved Universal Studios from a devastating year and made the funding of the classic Boris Karloff Frankenstein movie possible. Vault of Frankenstein also covers how the iconic Frankenstein look (flat head, scar and clamps) came to be. The book goes on to cover different evolutions of Frankenstein including The Bride of Frankenstein, and takes the reader on a tour through even more movies and TV series based on Frankenstein's monster.
From there, it is a short hop to Frankenstein-like creatures and themes showing up almost anywhere you look in pop culture. Ruditis shows is appearing in episodes of TV shows like The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Penny Dreadful. The monster can also be seen in more humorous incarnations such as Herman Munster (The Munsters) and Lurch (The Addams Family). Several movies even amp up the sexuality of the creature! And course Frankenstein's monster has been (re?)animated in several cartoons, and in a breakfast cereal.
What I enjoyed most about this Vault of Frankenstein is its comprehensiveness. It touches on every instance of Frankenstein from books, to plays, to movies, video games, comic books, music, and more. If you are into classic horror or pop culture, this book is definitely for you.
Summary:
Beginning with the story of how Mary Shelley first conceived of the novel (on a stormy night on the shores of Lake Geneva), The Vault of Frankenstein traces the Creature’s evolution from nameless literary character to international superstar, appearing in films, TV shows, comic books, and commercial merchandise.
Frankenstein’s monster has been a hero and a villain, in both comedies and dramas. He has tap danced with Gene Wilder, held a daisy by a stream, and even appeared on cereal boxes. With special attention placed on the 1931 film that lifted Frankenstein’s monster to a new level of stardom, this book explores the many facets of this enduring—and often tragically misunderstood—character.
Fantastic replica memorabilia—enclosed in an elegantly designed envelope inside the back cover—bring the history to even more vivid life as you hold it in your hands.
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