Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley (1818)

Read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) in full, from the opening letters through all twenty-four chapters. It is an advanced classic; tap any word in ESL Reader to hear it, translate it, or define it.

CEFR C1–C2 · 28 chapters · full public-domain text

1. LETTER 1 C2 hard 8 min · 1207 words 📖 Reader
2. LETTER 2 C2 hard 9 min · 1314 words 📖 Reader
3. LETTER 3 C1 moderate 2 min · 301 words 📖 Reader
4. LETTER 4 C2 hard 18 min · 2741 words 📖 Reader
5. CHAPTER 1 C2 hard 12 min · 1784 words 📖 Reader
6. CHAPTER 2 C2 hard 15 min · 2211 words 📖 Reader
7. CHAPTER 3 C2 hard 18 min · 2693 words 📖 Reader
8. CHAPTER 4 C2 hard 17 min · 2539 words 📖 Reader
9. CHAPTER 5 C1 moderate 16 min · 2357 words 📖 Reader
10. CHAPTER 6 C1 hard 18 min · 2735 words 📖 Reader
11. CHAPTER 7 C1 moderate 24 min · 3565 words 📖 Reader
12. CHAPTER 8 C1 moderate 21 min · 3093 words 📖 Reader
13. CHAPTER 9 C1 hard 15 min · 2228 words 📖 Reader
14. CHAPTER 10 C1 moderate 16 min · 2359 words 📖 Reader
15. CHAPTER 11 C2 hard 19 min · 2905 words 📖 Reader
16. CHAPTER 12 C2 hard 14 min · 2070 words 📖 Reader
17. CHAPTER 13 C2 hard 14 min · 2040 words 📖 Reader
18. CHAPTER 14 C2 hard 12 min · 1852 words 📖 Reader
19. CHAPTER 15 C1 hard 20 min · 3013 words 📖 Reader
20. CHAPTER 16 C1 moderate 21 min · 3209 words 📖 Reader
21. CHAPTER 17 C1 moderate 13 min · 1922 words 📖 Reader
22. CHAPTER 18 C2 hard 19 min · 2854 words 📖 Reader
23. CHAPTER 19 C2 hard 17 min · 2611 words 📖 Reader
24. CHAPTER 20 C1 moderate 24 min · 3525 words 📖 Reader
25. CHAPTER 21 C2 hard 25 min · 3745 words 📖 Reader
26. CHAPTER 22 C1 hard 23 min · 3421 words 📖 Reader
27. CHAPTER 23 C1 moderate 17 min · 2598 words 📖 Reader
28. CHAPTER 24 C1 moderate 55 min · 8252 words 📖 Reader

Frequently asked questions

Is this the full text of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus?

Yes. This is the complete, unabridged public-domain text, split into 28 chapters you can read one at a time.

What English level is Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus?

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is an advanced classic (around CEFR C1). In ESL Reader you can tap any word to hear it, translate it, or see a definition, so you can read comfortably above your level.

Is it free to read?

Yes. Every chapter is free to read online, with no sign-up and no paywall.

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