Pride and Prometheus

January 1, 2018

Forgoing the humor sometimes associated with the genre, this literary mashup introduces Mary Shelley's Frankenstein monster and his creator to the unmarried Mary Bennet from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Kessel (The Moon and the Other) expanded his 2008 novella (which won a Shirley Jackson Award) into this moody exploration of unrequited love, hubris, and what it means to be human--heavy stuff. Fans of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy may be disappointed to see them as a staid married couple, surfacing only in the background as younger sister Mary becomes intrigued after a brief encounter with a tormented Dr. Frankenstein, who has been tasked by his creation to provide him with a bride. Mary's character gets a welcome reprise as she is ten years older and wiser when we meet her now, and while not especially beautiful (a point deeply emphasized throughout the story), the sententiousness of her youth has softened into something approaching self-acceptance and empathy for others. VERDICT For readers who enjoy new takes on classic stories--and don't mind a few gothic elements thrown into the mix--this novel offers a surprisingly nuanced interpretation of characters readers may have nearly forgotten.--Victoria Caplinger, Durham, NC

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Kessel (The Moon and the Other) makes an ambitious attempt to cross Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, but this expansion of his Nebula-winning 2008 novelette falls short. After the marriages of the older Bennet sisters, Mary Bennet is left bored at home and takes up collecting fossils. She encounters the haunted-seeming Victor Frankenstein at a London society party and is swept up into his creature’s quest to force Victor to animate him a bride. Mary is more sensible and intelligent here than her original author allows, but Kessel’s insistence on sticking firmly to the plot of Frankenstein ends up trampling her contribution, as she doesn’t get to do anything that actually matters. Kessel has several interesting ideas, such as Dr. Frankenstein selecting the corpse of a pregnant woman to make a new creature, but he never follows through with any of them. It’s unclear what he’s trying to say about the Shelley side of things, and, as for the Austen commentary, the idea that Mrs. Bennet can be insufferable is not a new sentiment. The prose and characterization are neither as witty nor as clever as one would expect given the book’s antecedents. Readers hoping for a provocative or transformative work will be left unsatisfied.

March 1, 2018

Set 13 years after the events of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, this literary mash-up of that classic and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is told from the point of view of Mary Bennet. The morose and sanctimonious Bennet sister is resigned to the idea of a spinsterhood filled with fossils, philosophy, chats with her sister Kitty, and taking care of her parents-until she meets the enigmatic and tortured Victor Frankenstein. She has finally found her intellectual match, and this infatuation lands her in the middle of his and his Creature's conflict. The chapters alternate among the perspectives of Mary, Victor, and the Creature, and Kessel ingeniously weaves together the plot lines of the two source materials. Tweaking the time lines and locations slightly, the celebrated author has created a new story with the wit and heart of the originals while painting Mary in a sympathetic light. She is still the naive daughter of privilege who enjoys sermonizing, but she also is willing to go against convention in pursuit of knowledge and love. Kessel explores the idea of humanity, faith, romanticism, and hints of feminism with lush language and deep characterization. Austen and Shelley enthusiasts will appreciate the references and details, but those unfamiliar with the original tales will find much to enjoy in this work of atmospheric speculative fiction. The sometimes languid pacing is balanced with elegant prose and rich settings. VERDICT Give to fans of literary retellings and revisionist historical fiction.-Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journal

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein won't be able to help but fall headfirst into this exceedingly creative fusion of the two classic novels' worlds. The popularity of revising canon to reflect modern genres has paved the way for authors like Kessel (Moon and the Other, 2017) to elevate the art of the literary mash-up. Pride and Prometheus follows the crossed paths of Austen's Mary Bennet and Shelley's Victor Frankenstein at pinnacle points in their respective story lines. Victor cannot escape his monster's demand for a mate, and Mary finds herself doomed to spinsterhood, content to focus on her interest in natural science. But when the two meet, Mary cannot help but feel a strong connection to the mysterious and troubled scientist. Driven by these romantic urges and the need to escape the despair of her sister Kitty's sudden disappearance, Mary follows Victor through Europe on a disturbing mission to animate another corpse and risk losing his own humanity. Even the most morbidly curious will not be disappointed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)