Chapter 1, Frankenstein audiobook

Chapter 1 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Anna Butterworth

Episode Transcript

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Chapter one. I am by birtha Genevese, and my family is one
of the most distinguished of that republic. My ancestors had been for many years
counselors and syndics, and my fatherhad filled several public situations with honor and
reputation. He was respected by allwho knew him for his integrity and indefatigable

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attention to public business. He passedhis younger days perpetually occupied by the affairs
of his country. A variety ofcircumstances had prevented his marrying early, nor
was it until the decline of lifethat he had become a husband and the
father of a family. As thecircumstances of his marriage illustrate his character,

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I cannot refrain from relating them.One of his most intimate friends was a
merchant who, from a flourishing state, fell through numerous mischances, into poverty.
This man, whose name was Beaufort, was of a proud and unbending
disposition, and could not bear tolive in poverty and oblivion in the same

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country where he had formerly been distinguishedfor his rank and magnificence. Having paid
his debts, therefore, in themost honorable manner, he retreated with his
daughter to the town of Lucerne,where he lived unknown and in wretchedness.
My father loved Beaufort with the truestfriendship, and was deeply grieved by his
retreat in these unfortunate circumstances. Hebitterly deplored the false pride which led his

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friend to a conduct so little worthyof the affection that united them. He
lost no time in endeavoring to seekhim out, and with the hope of
persuading him to begin the world againthrough his credit and assistance. Beaufort had
taken effectual measures to conceal himself,and it was ten months before my father

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discovered his abode. Overjoyed at thisdiscovery, he hastened to the house,
which was situated in a mean streetnear the Ruse, But when he entered,
misery and despair alone welcomed him.Beaufort had saved but a very small
sum of money from the wreck ofhis fortunes, but it was sufficient to

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provide him with sustenance for some months, and in the meantime he hoped to
procure some respectable employment in a merchant'shouse. The interval was consequently spent in
inaction. His grief only became moredeep and rankling when he had leisure for
reflection, and at length it tookso fast hold of his mind that at

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the end of three months, helay on a bed of sickness, incapable
of any exertion. His daughter attendedhim with the greatest tenderness, but she
saw with despair that their little fundwas rapidly decreasing, and that there was
no other prospect of support. ButCaroline Beaufort possessed a mind of an uncommon

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mold, and her courage rose tosupp port her in her adversity. She
procured plain work, she plaited straw, and by various means, contrived to
earn a pittance scarcely sufficient to supportlife. Several months passed in this manner,
her father grew worse, her timewas more entirely occupied in attending him,

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her means of subsistence decreased, andin the tenth month her father died
in her arms, leaving her anorphan and a beggar. This last blow
overcame her, and she knelt byBeaufort's coffin, weeping bitterly. When my
father entered the chamber, he camelike a protecting spirit to the poor girl
who committed herself to his care,and after the interment of his friend,

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he conducted her to Geneva and placedher under the protection of a relation.
Two years after this event, Carolinebecame his wife. There was a considerable
difference between the ages of my parents, but this circumstance seemed to unite them
only closer in bonds of devoted affection. There was a sense of justice in

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my father's upright mind, which renderedit necessary that he should approve highly to
love strongly. Perhaps during former yearshe had suffered from the late discovered unworthiness
of one beloved, and was sodisposed to set a greater value on tried
worth. There was a show ofgratitude and worship in his attachment to my

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mother, differing wholly from the dotingfondness of age, for it was inspired
by reverence for her virtues, witha desire to be the means of,
in some degree recompensing her for thesorrows she had endured, but which gave
inexpressible grace to his behavior to her. Everything was made to yield to her
wishes and her convenience. He stroveto shelter her as a fair exotic is

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sheltered by the gardener from every rougherwind and to around her with all that
could tend to excite pleasurable emotion inher soft and benevolent mind. Her health,
and even the tranquility of her hithertoconstant spirit had been shaken by what
she had gone through during the twoyears that had elapsed previous to their marriage.

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My father had gradually relinquished all hispublic functions, and immediately after their
union they sought the pleasant climate ofItaly and the change of scene and interest
attendant on a tour through that landof wonders as a restorative for her weakened
frame. From Italy, they visitedGermany and France. I, their eldest

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child, was born in Naples,and as an infant, accompanied them in
their rambles. I remained for severalyears their only child. Much as they
were attached to each other, theyseemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from
a very mind of love to bestowthem upon me. My mother's tender caresses

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and my father's smile of benevolent pleasurewhile regarding me are my first recollections.
I was their plaything and their idoland something better, their child, the
innocent and helpless creature bestowed on themby Heaven, whom to bring up to
good and whose future lot was intheir hands to direct in happiness or misery,

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according as they fulfilled their duties towardsme. With this deep consciousness of
what they owed towards the being towhich they had given life, added to
the active spirit of tenderness that animatedboth. It may be imagined that while
during every hour of my infant lifeI received a lesson of patience, of

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charity, and of self control,I was so guided by a silken cord
that all seemed but one train ofenjoyment to me. For a long time,
I was their only care My motherhad much desire to have a daughter,
but I continued their single offspring.When I was about five years old,
while making an excursion beyond the frontiersof Italy, they passed a week

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on the shores of the Lake ofComo. Their benevolent disposition often made them
enter the cottages of the poor.This, my mother, was more than
a duty. It was a necessity, a passion, remembering what she had
suffered and how she had been relievedfor her to act in her turn the
guardian angel to the afflicted. Duringone of their walks, a poor cath

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in the foldings of a veil attractedtheir notice as being singularly disconsolate, while
the number of half clothed children gatheredabout it spoke of penury in its worst
shape. One day, when myfather had gone by himself to Milan,
my mother, accompanied by me,visited this abode. She found a peasant
and his wife, hard working,bent down by care and labor, distributing

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a scanty meal to five hungry babes. Among these there was one which attracted
my mother far above all the rest. She appeared of a different stalk.
The four others were dark eyed,hearty little vagrants. This child was thin
and very fair. Her hair wasthe brightest living gold, and despite the

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poverty of her clothing, seemed toset a crown of distinction on her head.
Her brow was clear and ample,her blue eyes cloudless, and her
lips and the molding of her faceso expressive of sensibility and sweetness, that
none could behold her without looking onher as of a distinct species, a

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being heaven scent and bearing a celestialstamp. In all her features. The
peasant woman, perceiving that my motherfixed eyes of wonder and admiration on this
lovely girl, eagerly communicated her history. She was not her child, but
the daughter of a Milanese nobleman.Her mother was a German and had died

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on giving her birth. The infanthad been placed with these good people to
nurse. They were better off then, They had not been long married,
and their eldest child was just born. The father of their charge was one
of those Italians nursed in the memoryof the antique glory of Italy, one
among lescavi onor Frementi, who exertedhimself to obtain the liberty of his country.

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He became the victim of its weakness. When he had died, or
still lingered in the dungeons of Austria, was not known. His property was
confiscated. His child became an orphanand a beggar. She continued with her
foster parents and bloomed in their rudeabode, fairer than a garden rose among

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dark leaved brambles. When my fatherreturned from Milan, he found playing with
me in the hall of our villa, a child fairer than pictured Cherub,
a creature who seemed to shed radiancefrom her looks, and whose form and
motions were lighter than the chamois ofthe The apparition was soon explained. With

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his permission, my mother prevailed onher rustic guardians to yield their charge to
her. They were fond of thesweet orphan. Her presence had seemed a
blessing to them, but it wouldbe unfair to keep her in poverty and
want when providence afforded her such powerfulprotection. They consulted their village priest,

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and the result was that Elizabeth Lavenzabecame the inmate of my parents house,
my more than sister, the beautifuland adored companion of all my occupations and
my pleasures. Every One loved Elizabeth. The passionate and almost reverential attachment which
all regarded her became, while Ishared it my pride and my delight.

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On the evening previous to her beingbrought to my home, my mother had
said, playfully, I have apretty present for my victor. Tomorrow he
shall have it. And when onthe morrow she presented Elizabeth to me as
her promised gift, I, withchildish seriousness, interpreted her words literally,

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and looked upon Elizabeth as mine,Mine to protect, love and cherish all
praises bestowed on her. I receivedas made to a possession of my own.
We called each other familiarly by thename of Cousin. No word,
no expression could body forth the kindof relation in which she stood to me

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any more than sister. Since tilldeath she was to be mine only