Mary Shelley's creature is one of the most powerful images of literature, brought to life not only by her genius doctor but also by the countless Hollywood movies that have given the Frankenstein monster shape and form. The record of the personal and medical sojourn of the brilliant and overreaching Dr. Frankenstein exists in its purest form in his journals, filled with the detailed notes and sketches documenting the flashes of genius, obsession, and madness that led to the animation of his monstrous creature. Here we learn of the staggering obstacles faced by all scientists of his day: the difficulty of obtaining corpses to study, the time and effort required to fashion unavailable laboratory equipment, the charges of blasphemy leveled against scientists who dared to transgress the limits of knowledge.

With inspired and atmospheric illustrations that draw the reader deep into the castle laboratory and diary entries that track the doctor's progress with his daring, Promethean experiment, The Secret Laboratory Journals of Dr. Victor Frankenstein is the ultimate companion to the world's most enduring and horrifying Gothic novel.