This is the original 1818 text of Frankenstein. In 1831, the more popular edition of Frankenstein appeared. In this later version, the story was heavily revised by Mary Shelley who was under pressure to make the book more conservative. The 1831 edition tends to be the one most widely read now but many scholars prefer the 1818 text, arguing that it preserves the spirit of Shelley's original publication. The 1818 edition also includes a preface by Shelley explaining the origins of Frankenstein.