Our Hideous Progeny (Hardback)
C. E. McGill (author)Published: 04/05/2023
Steeped in intrigue and gothic atmosphere, McGill’s gripping debut takes inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to deliver a powerful and evocative tale of passion, ambition and old secrets exploding out into the open.
Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her great uncle disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic but she doesn't know why or how...
The 1850s is a time of discovery and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary, with a sharp mind and a sharper tongue, is keen to make her name in this world of science, alongside her geologist husband Henry, but without wealth and connections, their options are limited.
But when Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the shocking truth behind her great-uncle's past, she thinks she may have found the key to securing their future...
Their quest takes them to the wilds of Scotland, to Henry's intriguing but reclusive sister Maisie, and to a deadly chase with a rival who is out to steal their secret...
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9780857529046
Number of pages: 400
Weight: 500 g
Dimensions: 222 x 144 x 40 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'In this gothic adventure, debut novelist McGill builds on Shelley's iconic story by adding sharp-minded female protagonist Mary, who sets out to discover the truth about her great-uncle Victor Frankenstein's disappearance in the Arctic.' - Stylist
'Our Hideous Progeny takes inspiration from Mary Shelley's masterpiece along with the Victorian fascination with scientific innovation and the prehistoric world. This wonderful debut evolves into a gripping Gothic tale of grief and ambition, passion and intrigue.' - Jess Kidd
'A wonderful book; dark, passionate, multi-layered and rich with enticing detail.' - Joanne Harris
'Compelling and utterly absorbing, Our Hideous Progeny is an artfully crafted debut that echoes the dark essence of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein while maintaining a fascinating originality all of its own.' - Susan Stokes-Chapman
'Darkly brilliant and sumptuously gothic, this atmospheric debut left me reeling.' - C.J. Cooke
'A fantastic read: I felt everything about Mary, her simmering anger and her intellectual delight, so very clearly.' - Freya Marske
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“A stunning literary transformation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein!”
Filled with fury and ambition, Mary turns to her great-grandfather Victor Frankenstein's research in order to claim her space in the 1850s scientific community.
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“Frankenstein revisited, indeed”
Frankenstein revisited, indeed. With all that it entails: monsters (literal and proverbial), drama, science, Scottish scenery and weather aaaaand, well, it has dinosaurs. I know, I know!
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“Gothically Gorgeous!!!”
I have been a lover of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein since studying in for A-Level English Literature, so when I received a copy of Our Hideous Progeny I couldn’t be more excited!
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