The Secret Laboratory Journals of Dr. Victor Frankenstein

By Jeremy Kay

Book Overview

The long-lost diary of Mary Shelley's genius doctor that reveals step-by-step instructions for building the famous monster This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879515112
• ISBN13: 9780879515119
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Overlook Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.5" x 1.0" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Another take on Frankenstein.

Another fun read in the form of Frankenstein's journal from Frankenstein. This one is filled with some gruesome and lovely pictures of Victor's experiments and how he came to create his monster....including his own sketch of the Creature itself! It fearures the "original text" from the journal,it whatever shape of form(alot of fragments and pieces,letters and notes included) and there is a neatly written translation of the entire thing at the end of the book. A fun read and appropiately creepy for anyone interested in the Frankenstein story.

Richly imagined journals of Victor Frankenstein in a handsome edition!

There are two collected "journals" of Dr Victor Frankenstein worth owning - one titled "Diary of Victor Frankenstein" illustrated by Timothy Basil Erring, and "The Secret Laboratory Journals of Dr Victor Frakenstein" by Jeremy Kay. The earlier title is no longer in print [but you can get it used], and is a beautiful piece of art indeed. The pages look aged, giving it an authentic feel, and the text is in cursive writing [though it makes it difficult to read], but if it's an authentic feel you're after, the earlier title is a must-have. This title is by no means inferior. It is divided into six parts: Part I traces the early life of Victor Frankenstein, his friends, family and education [the journal entries are oftentimes accompanied by ink illustrations], Part II is about the laboratory [how Frankenstein discovers his family's ancestral castle and sets it up as his HQ], Part III focuses on Frankenstein's efforts in procuring the equipment and materials needed for his work, Part IV traces Frankenstein's human life rejuvenation experiments [including a detailed fold-out drawing of his lab and its macabre contents], Part V "The Bride" [how Victor is forced to create the monster's mate], and Part VI "The Return" and his eventual fate. The journal entries themselves are highly readable and provide a fascinating "insight" into Frankenstein's mind.Vivid illustrations accompany the text, many of which are gruesome, and some enthralling in their beauty and rich detail. This is a wonderful companion to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and should delight fans of the genre.

Now the secrets are available to anyone.

Now that the private,secret journals have been discovered and made available ,the methods,procedures and scientific discoveries of Dr.Frankenstein are explained in detail so that it is now possible for others to follow and produce new monsters. The journals are beautifully written and illustrated and while giving the secrets involved;the journals also give a clear insight into the mindset and intentions of Dr.Frankenstein.The journals show why he pursued his scientific studies.It also gives a detailed insight into the state of medical science and what rudimentry equipment was available for scientists to carry on their research during the early 1800's. We also see how the generally accepted wisdom of the time was so wrong.For instance, around 1817,the process of blood transfusions were banned by the French Parliament,England's Royal Society and the Pope.The issue of Stem Cell Research and Cloneing is now endorsed by the Scientific Establishment.Could they be just as wrong?Just remember the generally accepted wisdom at the time is usually proven totally wrong in the future. The personal, handwritten script and wonderfully detailed illustrations along with the nine page wide fold-out illustration of the laboratory and all its equipment is ,all by itself,worth the price of the book.A wonderful book to accompany Mary Shelley's classic book.

an incredible work of art.

this book is dazzling. it fills in what Mary Shelley decided to skip, and does it well. the handwriting is in a flowing cursive, and it shows all the flights of fancy and madness Frankenstein had. a beautiful foldout shows his lab and equipment. reading it, one gets the feeling that you really could make a monster. The illustrations are not for the weak of heart, for they are often magnificently disgusting.