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Our Hideous Progeny
by C.E. McGill
A wonderful riff on "Frankenstein", with outspoken protagonist Mary Sutherland, (great niece of Victor Frankenstein), who is frustrated by society's expectations and her thwarted hopes of practicing as a scientist. She edits and illustrates her gambling addict husband Henry's geology papers, and though not allowed to formally contribute to the rising scientific conversations in Europe, has a good understanding of his and others' work. His peers do not like her for her forthright behaviour, and have a growing distaste for appeals for money.
One day, Mary finds her great uncle's writings about his dreadful experiments, and she begins to decipher them, and wonders if his work can be built upon.
When Henry finds himself out of work, they need something to turn their fortunes around. Two opportunities fall into their laps (his father's death and Vic's notes), they decide to move to Henry's childhood home in Scotland and embark on a new (for them), daring scientific course in paleontology, something all the great men in science are fascinated by. Mary and Henry hope that with their attempt to create a living creature, using Victor's notes, they will make their names, and find respect and wealth.
Gradually, and with the help of one of Henry's friends, who is also Mary's adolescent tormenter, they create a creature using a variety of dead animals' parts. While the men see the creature as just a vehicle for their fame and wealth, Mary develops a love and connection to the creature.
Mary also becomes friends with Henry's younger, ill sister, which irritates Henry to no end. This isn't his only problem with Mary, as no matter what he tells himself, Mary is the better scientist, is smarter than him and has found more success in their current attempts, and she disagrees with his desire to exploit the creature, all of which drive him away from her.
Despite the near constant misogyny that Mary experiences from so many around her, she shines throughout this marvellous novel. The prose amply illustrates the frustrations of an intelligent woman unable to do what she loves, while also being a great addition to the Frankenstein story. With the inclusion of kind Mr. Jamsetjee, author C.E. McGill also describes the barriers in place for those, despite their education, could not achieve much because of the colour of their skin.
I will definitely keep watch for more by this author, as I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
One day, Mary finds her great uncle's writings about his dreadful experiments, and she begins to decipher them, and wonders if his work can be built upon.
When Henry finds himself out of work, they need something to turn their fortunes around. Two opportunities fall into their laps (his father's death and Vic's notes), they decide to move to Henry's childhood home in Scotland and embark on a new (for them), daring scientific course in paleontology, something all the great men in science are fascinated by. Mary and Henry hope that with their attempt to create a living creature, using Victor's notes, they will make their names, and find respect and wealth.
Gradually, and with the help of one of Henry's friends, who is also Mary's adolescent tormenter, they create a creature using a variety of dead animals' parts. While the men see the creature as just a vehicle for their fame and wealth, Mary develops a love and connection to the creature.
Mary also becomes friends with Henry's younger, ill sister, which irritates Henry to no end. This isn't his only problem with Mary, as no matter what he tells himself, Mary is the better scientist, is smarter than him and has found more success in their current attempts, and she disagrees with his desire to exploit the creature, all of which drive him away from her.
Despite the near constant misogyny that Mary experiences from so many around her, she shines throughout this marvellous novel. The prose amply illustrates the frustrations of an intelligent woman unable to do what she loves, while also being a great addition to the Frankenstein story. With the inclusion of kind Mr. Jamsetjee, author C.E. McGill also describes the barriers in place for those, despite their education, could not achieve much because of the colour of their skin.
I will definitely keep watch for more by this author, as I thoroughly enjoyed this book.