The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein by Peter Ackroyd is a historical fantasy novel that intertwines Mary Shelley's iconic characters, Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his Creature, with real-life Romantic poets and figures such as Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, and Lord Byron. In this alternate literary history, Victor Frankenstein's attempt to create a perfect being using “animal electricity” results in a grotesque and monstrous Creature, whose appearance and instincts lead to catastrophic consequences. The novel delves into the era’s fascination with resurrection and the scientific methods of the time, while also exploring the influences and myths surrounding Shelley's original story. Ackroyd's narrative presents a suspenseful and imaginative twist on the origins of science fiction, culminating in a surprise ending that echoes the dramatic flair of its characters.
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