Frankenstein, a gothic novel by Mary Shelley, was first published in 1818. Much of the story unfolds in Switzerland, but there are instances where the plot transcends borders, taking the readers to Germany, France, England, and Scotland. The novel follows the tragic demise of a young scientist, Victor Frankenstein who, possessed by a moment of insanity, creates life. The euphoria experienced once he accomplishes his goal is short-lived when his sanity returns, and he comes face to face with his abominable creation. Regret and fear force him to abandon the being of his making. The monster is left continuously yearning for the attention and affection of its maker and ultimately succumbs to the allure of evil; setting in motion a series of unfortunate events that culminates in Victor’s demise.
The partial hand lettering of the book title pays homage to the period and place the novel was written – 19th Century Europe. The ornate design of the ‘F’ grabs the attention as well as injects variety into a layout that reads simply. This historic theme is continued in the illustration selected which pays homage to Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam painting. The Creation of Adam explores the creation of man as well as casts judgement on the creator due to humanity’s unceremonious abandonment. The abandonment of creation is a central theme in Frankenstein.
