Vault of Frankenstein

A masterful book about media and the titular classic character. The text is loaded with interesting detail and fascinating images.

Sure to grab a wide variety of readers.

The Vault of Frankenstein is a look back into the original of Frankenstein and his mostry profiling his history to modern day. The book includes full-page photos as well as other photos such as the handwritten work of Mary Shelley herself.
I enjoyed reading this book. I loved learning where certain aspects of the Frankenstein traditions come from (HInt: may aren't from the literary story). I really enjoyed seeing all the incarnations of the monster and its personality.
A fun book for horror fans and A great book for lovers of Frankenstein, The Vault is highly entertaining and informative.

This was definitely an interesting and informative read, but I felt like it went into maybe too much detail in some areas while it skipped other areas entirely. Like I understand how important the 1931 movie was in making Frankenstein a household name but the book just kept repeating the same facts about this movie while it was really supposed to be a section on other things. By the fifth time it was mentioned I fully understood how the studio copyrighted the monster's appearance and it forced other movies to use different designs.

Also I was hoping it would spend more time talking about other book adaptations of Frankenstein [there were only a few pages overall], but it mostly focused on movies and TV. I understand this decision since there are sooo many books that retell the Frankenstein story, but the more I read the more I realized that I had seen maybe like three of the movies mentioned while I have read countless books so I guess the information presented was a bit out of my wheelhouse. It was still an interesting read though and there are a lot of great pictures included.

We are quickly approaching the 200 year anniversary of a novel written as a part of a challenge by a British woman staying in a castle on Lake Geneva. Mary Shelley's little project has become one of the most recognized characters in the twentieth and twenty-first century. The novel floated around with classic literature of the period without making a huge wave until Universal Studios' full-length movie in 1931. Since that time the Monster has appeared in numerous films and just about every form of entertainment from cartoons (Frankenstein Jr and Scooby Doo), an Aurora model kit, Lurch from the Addams Family and Herman Munster, and even the X-Files. Although these modern interpretations drift from the original storyline, many newer versions try to stick closer to the original in the story of themes such as the series Penny Dreadful. His fame has not been limited to America. A rather comical looking giant Frankenstein monster joins the Japanese monster collection battling a Godzilla-like monster.

The Vault of Frankenstein will give the reader a detailed history of the creature in all his variations. Today's along with last century's version of the monster have changed quite a bit. Shelley would never have dreamt that her monster would meet the Wolfman, Abbot, and Costello, or grace the box of breakfast cereal. She would also be surprised to find that there was an Igor (or "eye-gor" in Mel Brooks version) or the movies most quoted line "It's Alive" was never written in the novel. In fact, the creation of the monster itself is under-represented in the book compared to the movies.

The Vault of Frankenstein is filled with photographs and memorabilia of Frankenstein's creation. Photos of Shelley's original writing, movie posters, photographs of the actors who played the creature, and various items and props are included in the pages of the book. The book includes all outgrowth that is influenced by the creature's fame -- from the Monster Mash to postage stamps. A well written and illustrated history of a cultural icon.

Are you a horror enthusiast or just a fan of Frankenstein? Then do grab this book because you will love it.

On “Vault of Frankenstein, 200 years of the World’s Most Famous Monster” we are presented with a journey that starts in the rainy and bleak summer of 1816 and that goes all the way to present day. Exploring how the monster with no name ended as a pop culture icon sharing the name of his creator, going over plays, movies, television series, dolls, merchandising and more.

By the end of this reading we are aware of how much Frankenstein’s monster is a part of our life, of how much we see its depiction and influence in all the media around us. One is also guided through the many changes that monster displays, the ups and downs, and how it has grown beyond Mary Shelley’s literary master piece.

From the depiction on the original novel to the iconic look of Boris Karloff. From a complex being of supreme intelligence to a kid friendly mascot or a grunting beast. Every point is noticed and briefly explained.

Well written, easy to read, with a well researched and nicely thought out layout this book is one that you will want to for your collection.

For classic film buffs and horror fans alike. This book is a fast, fun and interesting read, combining the history of the original novel, films and franchising...all with inside tidbits and gorgeous visuals.

An essential book for any fan of one of the most unique and enduring horror characters, this beautifully illustrated volume charts not just the origin of Frankenstein , and his evolution on the stage and big and small screens but also his impact on pop culture and why he has endured.
Crafted and curated with love, the book contains wonderful set photographs and illustrations to supplement the well researched text, which is packed full of fascinating tidbits. The book is laid out in a logical manner, beginning with the by now well known story of how the story came into being, as well as its publication history. The next section deals with the various stage adaptations and the early film productions before the Universal design which has become so well known and beloved as to be synonymous with the character, before moving on to the various other additions to the franchise ( and the myth) including the beloved Bride of Frankenstein. We then learn about how the arrival of TV brought the character to a whole new audience who had never seen the original movies , and how attempts have been made more recently to bring the character back to the screen , both on film and television. Of course no discussion of Frankenstein would be complete without a look at the comedy horrors where he has featured, from his adventures with Abbott and Costello in the 1940's to the award winning and enduringly popular Young Frankenstein , and of course not forgetting the lovable Herman Munster. Frankenstein has also had an enduring appeal for children, appearing in cartoons like Scooby Doo, comic books and on cereal boxes , as well as inspiring films such as Frankenweeie and even his grand daughter appears on Monster High and is a popular doll. From toys to stamps, books to computer games the legend of Frankenstein lives on, continuing to grow and evolve with seemingly endless popularity, and this book will appeal to anyone who considers themselves a fan.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This was a really good compilation of all things Frankenstein and Frankenstein's creature! I really liked seeing the original adaptations and how they evolved into today's cultural view of the creature. It's interesting how different things that are attributed to the story today - for example, the fact that the creature is green or the existence of Igor - while they're not in Mary Shelley's original story, are an integral part of how we think of the story of Frankenstein.

I really enjoyed this and how well the images complemented the written information and history. This will be a great book to read in person!

Thoroughly researched, this book details the impact that Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus has had on popular culture. This book delves into the famous party held by Lord Byron, Mary Shelley’s creation of the story, and the appearances on the stage, and silver screen.
There are lots of photos, illustrations, and art that provide eye candy throughout the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an unbiased review.

I usually don’t read novelty books like this but it sounded like an interesting read when NetGalley suggested it, so I figured take a chance. The Vault of Frankenstein did not disappoint! I’m not a big monster fan but this book had so many interesting tidbits that I quickly read it from cover to cover. I also found it amusing that I was just in Geneva, Switzerland and started reading this book, and learned that the original Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was written right there in a house on Lake Geneva! This book started out with history of the author and creator of Frankenstein and her life. Then it’s various chapters discussed how Frankenstein evolved and changed over time since it has been redone over and over again with every person adding their spin on the story of the monster. It was perfect timing to get me ready for Halloween!

From Mary Shelley’s 1818 book to The Munsters and beyond, the Vault of Frankenstein is an extensively researched look at the impact of a single book published 200 years ago.

“Only Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan and Dracula have appeared more often in media than Frankenstein’s monster.”

Not bad for a nineteen-year-old first-time writer who only wrote the horror tale on a dare from two older published poets. Her real story is almost as famous as the monster himself. It opens the Bride of Frankenstein and was the entire plot of three other movies.

The Vault of Frankenstein explores how a book written so long ago has inspired so many interpretations. Emphasizing movies and television shows, the book also briefly summarizes plays and books based on Frankenstein. The illustrations include pages from the first edition books, engravings of locations, playbills, movie posters, candid production shots and movie stills. The final chapter goes beyond film into cereal, cartoons, comics, dolls, models and music in the Frankenstein genre.

I consider myself a horror fan. I even had the Frankenstein model shown within this book. However, I learned many new facts from the Vault of Frankenstein. Who knew the original silent 1910 Frankenstein film is 13 minutes long, restored and available on YouTube? Or that Igor (or his original incarnation, Fritz) was a device used by plays and movies so the audience would know Dr. Frankenstein’s thoughts? He wasn’t in the book at all.

The Vault of Frankenstein is perfect for a horror fan or Frankenstein memorabilia collector. The hardcover includes replicas of book manuscript pages, a playbill, movie posters and stills. This book is a fascinating deep dive into Frankenstein lore. 5 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Becker & Meyer, and NetGalley for granting my wish and providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love tales about monsters! Frankenstein has been one of my favorite classic monsters ever since I watched the old black and white movies with my dad as a child. I grew to love the character even more when I read the book that started it all. I have to admit I didn't read the classic book by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley until I was in college. I first came to enjoy the character based on all the cheesy monster movies, scary tales and pop culture references that morphed out of her tale. I have since read the book many, many times and love both the original character and the more Holllywood version.

The book Vault of Frankenstein traces the history of the character from the book's publication in 1818 through all the related novels, plays, movies and pop culture references. Frankenstein's monster has grown from a monstrous creation that didn't even have a name to a pop culture force all its own.

This book is just awesome! Not only does it give detailed facts about Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the book, the history of the character, the films, related novels and plays, actors who played the monster, and the pop culture history of the character, but the book is filled with many amazing illustrations and photos as well. I love how there are pictures of everything from Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's original hand written manuscript pages to Frankenstein themed postage stamps.

I have always loved the fact that the book grew out of a bet among friends during a boring, rainy summer in 1816. I wonder what Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley would think about the amazing journey her character has taken over the past 200 years? I think she would be impressed that the monster has taken on a life of its own....just like in the book. Just a bit less lonely and hopeless.

This is a beautiful book! After reading a review copy, I immediately ordered a copy for our keeper shelf. As a lover of classic monsters, I just had to have this book. The facts and descriptions are so interesting and the photos are awesome! Definitely full stars from this Frankenstein fan!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Quarto Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

This worked for me as a non-geeky mixture of cultural commentary and fan(goria)-boy homage to all things Frankensteinian. Half of it is concerned with unpicking who did what to the original Shelley novel, and half of it is a loving dumping of a great collection of images, artwork and so on connected to the characters. So we get the original three-volume publication under fully anonymous terms, right up to The Munsters and beyond – and let's not forget the two major cinematic iterations, namely those from Universal and Hammer (who, we see, couldn't even spell the author's surname correctly on some of its publicity posters!). It does quietly admit there are other books that have done similar things, but this belated tie-in to the book's 200th birthday certainly appealed – it never went Pseuds' Corner or nerdy, and still managed to flesh the Shelley concepts out as regards two centuries' worth of cribbing, riffing and plagiarising. Cultural experts may dismiss this as too slim – its lesson does boil down to "lawks, hasn't this been popular?!", but I wasn't in the market for anything more profound than this provides. A strong four stars.

Vault of Frankenstein: 200 Years of the World's Most Famous Monster by Paul Ruditis traces Frankenstein's history in pop culture. The photos in this book are fantastic and really are a journey through the years of evolution of Frankenstein over 200 years. I love this book too from start to finish as it takes us on a the path Mary Shelley took with her Frankenstein's creature. We learn about her and her as a writer along with details of the Rise of the Creature to the Monster in All Media. We even learn about merchandise and about has the monster is both villain and hero as well as funny and scary. This is truly a story that has evolved from imagination to page to silent film to big screen to plays to merchandise to inspired characters and more over the last 200 years. Victor Frankenstein and his monster and Mary Shelley are household names. Any fan needs this book -- it is a great reference and adds to the knowledge of a fantastic story.

So so interesting, couldn't put it down! I enjoyed this very much and the historical imagery was great.

Let it be known that I am an absolute Frankenstein nut! I have in my possession 14 different editions of the book that I have accumulated since I was 14, when I read the story for the first time and fell in love with the writing, the era and the life of Mary Shelley.
This latest tribute to the iconic monster we have all come to instantly recognize has been beautifully pieced together by Paul Ruditis and published by Quarto books. And a stunning tribute it is.

This book was a joy to read. Frankenstein has penetrated so many facets of pop-culture over the years and Paul Ruditis expertly brings together everything there is to know on the subject; the monster, the author and the movies.

As someone who has read extensively regarding all things Frankenstein, I didn’t think there was much left for me to learn, but I certainly found some great little nuggets in this commentary that I can add to my knowledge bank. Even if I hadn’t managed to learn anything new, the visuals alone in this book would make it an impulse purchase if I saw it in a bookshop. Unfortunately, I only had the pleasure of reviewing the e-ARC from NetGalley but I can tell this is a very well thought-out book that will have pride of place on my coffee table when I am fortunate enough to secure the hardcover edition.

If you are new to Frankenstein, either in book or movie form, this is a fabulous introduction to the history of how the story has stood the test of time and how it is as relevant in 2018 as it was when first published in 1818. The story has been the trigger for so many notable turning points in pop-culture. Mary Shelley is one of the original #ladiesofhorrorfiction, inspiring women everywhere to pick up the pen and the original Frankenstein movie, with the iconic monster as we all know him, sparked the golden age of horror cinema, with no other movie (in my opinion) ever coming close to the original Karloff masterpiece. While the book and movie differ on my levels, there is much to be gained from reading The Vault of Frankenstein to get a real appreciation for each medium in their own inspired ways and an amazing insight into the life of Shelley.

I can’t wait to get my grabby hands on a hardcover of this little gem in physical form!

This was a cool collection of the history of Frankenstein. I would definitely recommend the print book for any true fan of the book and movies.

Vault of Frankenstein by Paul Ruditis takes the reader from the earliest, mere inkling of the iconic Frankenstein, when it was but an idea in Shelley's mind, through to the enduring legacy still vibrantly alive today. This is the charting of a legend, the mark of an outstanding story. Centuries on, the book and characters continue to inspire new adaptations, in all manner of media, showing how our interpretations change via the lens of culture and social values. My favourite has to be National Theatre's Frankenstein play starring Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch, who took it in turns to play both Victor and his Creature. That version focused on the Creature's story, what it means to be abandoned as a child. I don't recall seeing it mentioned in this book though, which was a bit of a disappointment. This book is a great treasure for any who love Shelley's original book, the myriad adaptations, or are a classic horror buff in general. I enjoyed the digital ARC enough that I've ordered a hard copy!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A richly detailed and fully researched look at how the Frankenstein legend was born and evolved over time. I do wish it had mentioned the 2011 National Theatre production, my personal favorite adaptation, but that's a small quibble since so many other works are discussed - tons of which I'd never heard of before. Bottom line: if you like Frankenstein, you'll love this book!

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

This is fun history of the Iconic Horror Story. The author traces the evolution of the Novel from Shelley's original story to the plays, movies, television and pop culture icon. The book is also filled with lots of historical illustrations from the original manuscript to movie posters and magazine covers. The book is easy to read and will delight any fan of the Doctor and his monster. Enjoy

'Vault of Frankenstein: 200 Years of the World's Most Famous Monster' by Paul Ruditis is a look at all the ways the book Frankenstein has been used in culture and changed along the way.

Starting with the origins of the book by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, we learn of her life and love, the tragedies and upbringing that brought the book to life. We read about the stormy holiday that inspired the author.

From there, the book is transformed into a stage play, then movies, and television and cartoons. How the monster became known as Frankenstein when the book is clear that this is the name of the creator is discussed, along with the invention of the character Igor, who is never in the book. The various ways the monster has been portrayed, parodied and changed are discussed.

Throughout the book are tons of photos from original manuscript pages and paintings of the area in Switzerland where the book was created. There are photos of Boris Karloff having the Jack Pierce makeup applied. There are stills from the many ways the creature has appeared.

I really had a great time reading this book. As a fan of the book and the original James Whale film, I really liked how this book presented things. The material, written and visual, was very interesting.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - becker&mayer kids!, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.