Letter 1, Frankenstein audiobook

Letter I of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Anna Butterworth

Episode Transcript

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Letter one Saint Petersburg, December eleventh, seventeen to missus Seville, England.
You will rejoice to hear that nodisaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise
which you have regarded with such evilforebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and

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my first task is to assure mydear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence
in the success of my undertaking.I am already far north of London,
and as I walk on the streetsof Petersburg, I feel a cold northern
breeze play upon my cheeks, whichbraces my nerves and fills me with delight.

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Do you understand this feeling? Thisbreeze, which has traveled from the
regions towards which I am advancing,gives me a foretaste of those icy climes.
Inspirited by this wind of promise,my day dreams become more fervent and
vivid. I try and vail tobe persuaded that the pole is the seat

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of frost and desolation. It everpresents itself to my imagination as the region
of beauty and delight. There,Margaret, the sun is forever visible,
its broad disk just skirting the horizonand diffusing a perpetual splendor there. For
with your leave, my sister,I will put some trust in preceding navigators.

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There snow and frost are banished,and sailing over a calm sea,
we may be wafted to a landsurpassing in wonders and in beauty every region
hitherto discovered on the habitable globe.Its productions and features may be without example,
as the phenomena of the heavenly bodiesundoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes,

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what may not be expected in acountry of eternal light. I may there
discover the wondrous power which attract theneedle, and may regulate a thousand celestial
observations that require only this voyage torender their seeming eccentricities consistent. Forever.
I shall satiate my ardent curiosity withthe sight of a part of the world

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never before visited, and may treada lad never before imprinted by the foot
of man. These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all
fear of danger or death, andto induce me to commence this laborious voyage
with the joy a child feels whenhe embarks in a little boat with his

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holiday mates on an expedition of discoveryup his native river. But supposing all
these conjectures to be false, youcannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall
confer on all mankind to the lastgeneration, by discovering a passage near the
Pole, to those countries to reachwhich at present so many months are requisite,

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or by ascertaining the secret of themagnet, which, if at all
possible, can only be effected byan undertaking such as mine. These reflections
had dispelled the agitation with which Ibegan my letter, and I feel my
heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevatesme to heaven. For nothing contributes so

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much to tranquilize the mind as asteady purpose, a point on which the
soul may fix its intellectual eye.This expedition has been the favorite dream of
my early years. I have readwith ardor the accounts of the various voyages
which have been made in the prospectof arriving at the North Pacific Ocean through

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the seas which surround the Pole.You may remember that history of all the
voyages made for purposes of discovery composethe whole of our good uncle Thomas's library.
My education was neglected, yet Iwas passionately fond of reading. These
volumes were my study day and night, and my familiarity with them increased that

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regret which I had felt as achild on learning that my father's dying injunction
had forbidden my uncle to allow meto embark in a seafaring life. These
visions faded when I perused for thefirst time those poets whose effusions entranced my
soul and lifted it to heaven.I also became a poet, and for

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one year lived in a paradise ofmy own creation. I imagined that I
also might obtain a niche in thetemple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare
are consecrated. You are well acquaintedwith my failure, and how heavily I
bore the disappointment. But just atthat time I inherited the fortune of my

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cousin, and my thoughts were turnedinto the channel of their earlier bent.
Six years have passed since I resolvedon my present undertaking. I can even
now remember the hour from which Idedicated myself to this great enterprise. I
commenced by inuring my body to hardship. I accompanied the whale fishers on several

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expeditions to the North Sea. Ivoluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst,
and want of sleep. I oftenworked harder than the common sailors during the
day, and devoted my nights thestudy of mathematics, the theory of medicine,
and those branches of physical science fromwhich a naval adventure might derive the

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greatest practical advantage. Twice I actuallyhired myself as an under meat in a
Greenland whaler and acquitted myself to admiration, I must own. I felt a
little proud when my captain offered methe second dignity in the vessel and entreated
me to remain with the greatest earnestness. So valuable did he consider my services?

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And now, dear Margaret, doI not deserve to accomplish some great
purpose? My life might have beenpassed in ease and luxury, but I
preferred glory to every enticement that wealthplaced in my path. Oh that some
encouraging voice would answer to the affirmative. My courage and my resolution is firm,

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but my hopes fluctuate, and myspirits are often depressed. I am
about to proceed on a long anddifficult voyage, the emergencies of which will
demand all my fortitude. I amrequired not only to raise the spirits of
others, but sometimes to sustain myown when there's our failing. This is

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the most favorable period for traveling toRussia. They fly quickly over the snow
in their sledges. The motion ispleasant and in my opinion, far more
agreeable than that of an English stagecoach. The cold is not excessive if
you are wrapped in furs, adress which I have already adopted for There

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is a great difference between walking thedeck and remaining seated motionless for hours,
when no exercise prevents the blood fromactually freezing in your veins. I have
no ambition to lose my life onthe post road between Saint Petersburg and Archangel.
I shall depart for the latter townin a fortnight or three weeks,

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and my intention is to hire aship there, which can easily be done
by paying me insurance for the owner, and to engage as many sailors as
I think necessary among those who areaccustomed to the whale fishing. I do
not intend to sail until the monthof June. And when shall I return?
Ah, dear sister, how canI answer this question? If I

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succeed, many many months, perhapsyears, will pass before you and I
may meet. If I fail,you will see me again soon or never.
Farewell, my dear excellent Margaret.Heaven shower down blessings on you and
save me that I may again andagain testify my gratitude for all your love

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and kindness, Your affectionate brother,R. Walton,