Frankenstein Lives

The Legacy of the World's Most Famous Monster

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by Paul Ruditis

Type

Essays

Subject

One Film > Frankenstein

Keywords

James Whale, monsters

Publishing date

2025 (August 05, 2025)

Publisher

Castle Books

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Hardcover • 176 pages
6 ¾ x 9 ¼ inches (17 x 23.5 cm)

ISBN

978-1-57715-537-9

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Book Presentation:
It’s alive! …Again! Frankenstein Lives brings to life the enduring legacy of Mary Shelley’s Creature in thrilling images and captivating commentary.

Beginning with the story of Mary Shelley’s conception of the novel on a stormy night on the shores of Lake Geneva, Frankenstein Lives traces the Creature’s transformation from a nameless literary monster to an international sensation, appearing in films, television shows, and commercial merchandise. The Creature has even appeared on a cereal box!

Frankenstein’s monster has been a hero and a villain, a star in both comedies and dramas. He has gone head-to-head with both Dracula and the Wolf Man, tap danced with Gene Wilder, joked around with Abbott and Costello, served as the butler for the Addams family, and continues to star in films today. With special attention placed on the 1931 film starring Boris Karloff staggering through the mad scientist’s laboratory, the book explores the classic—and often misunderstood—character. This visual guide includes photos of Shelley’s manuscript pages, Boris Karloff on set as the Creature in the 1931 film, and much more! Frankenstein Lives brings the history to life, including:

• Mary Shelley’s background and inspiration
• Film portrayals of Frankenstein’s monster, including upcoming film adaptions
• Commercial merchandizing of the monster, including costumes and video games
• Profiles of the Bride, Igor, and Dracula
• And much more!
Relive the Creature’s greatest pop culture moments in this visually stunning and comprehensive guide to the green monster that we can’t stop loving.

About the Author:
Paul Ruditis is a New York Times best-selling author and pop culture addict who has written companion books for TV shows, including The Walking Dead, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, Star Trek, and The West Wing. His diverse resume also includes original young adult novels, comic books, and novelty books for all ages.

Press Reviews:
"Fun and informative history…Horror fans will appreciate this lively account."
―Publishers Weekly

"For fans of Mary Shelley’s novel and its famous characters, this book is a must-read."
―Booklist

"Its purpose may be to be the most concise yet satisfying one, as well as the most up-to-date, as it folds such recent items as Poor Things and Lisa Frankenstein into the discussion. Ruditis really drives home how the Frankenstein monster has changed in a way that might not have been as crisply defined in a longer book."
―Mike Segretto, Psycho Babble 200

See Frankenstein (1931) on IMDB ...