This really needs to be translated into English, because it’s such an interesting entrant into the Frankenstein discourse. The first part is a speculative argument that Claire Clairmont, stepsister of Mary Shelley, was the real author of Frankenstein. This will ruffle feathers — and it’s hard not to bristle at Bajon’s portrayal of Mary as somewhat insipid — but the case he makes is more persuasive than you’d expect. I really enjoyed the style of it — very much personal essay, but with scholarly chops. It was sort of like the diary of a mad scientist, working through discoveries, which was perfectly suited to the project.
And you don’t have to buy the argument, you can instead enjoy it as a thought experiment that sets up the second part, which is a kind of mashup of this biographical theory and the monster story itself, one that dwells particularly on the sexual openness of Romantic social circles. It’s also, of course, a creative and interesting version of the Frankenstein story, one that departs from the classic in decisive ways, particularly with regards to gender, and delightfully unsettles standard interpretations in the process.
It’s a fun book, and one that could launch a thousand conference papers. I hope someone talented takes on the project of producing an English version.
Kasia Reads 