On the occasion of the two-hundredth anniversary of its first publication, Mary Shelley's original text from 1818 is introduced by the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning Charlotte Gordon. 2018 marks the two-hundredth anniversary of Mary Shelley's groundbreaking novel. For the first time, Penguin Classics will publish the original text from 1818, preserving the poignant and politically charged aspects of Shelley's original writing, as well as her unwavering wit and strong female voice. This edition also highlights Shelley's relationship with her mother, the pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," and showcases her commitment to carrying forward her mother's ideals by placing them in the context of a feminist legacy, rather than appearing as the sole woman among male poets like Percy Shelley and Lord Byron. This edition includes a new introduction and recommendations for further reading.