March 9, 2010

The Covers of Frankenstein : The Bride Novelized



In a highly stylized, color-drenched illustration — artist unfortunately unidentified — the Monster and his Betrothed hold hands on the cover of the Bride of Frankenstein novelization from 1936. Coincidentally, no doubt, the Bride’s hair is red, as was Elsa Lanchester’s.

Michael Egremont was the one-time-only pen name of Michael Harrison (born Maurice Desmond Rohan, 1907-1991), then in the early stages of a long and distinguished writing career. Harrison served with British Intelligence during World War II and went on to a wide variety jobs, including stints as a journalist, an editor, an advertising director, a market research executive and an industrial consultant. In the Fifties, he established himself as a major authority on Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, notably with the essential In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes (1958). Harrison also wrote seven new Holmes novels, as well as new adventures of Poe’s consulting detective, Auguste Dupin.

The Bride novelization was originally published as a Queensway Edition of The Readers Library Publishing Company of London on January First, 1936. The book today is scarce, with a high quality copy going for close to a thousand dollars. Add the very rare dust jacket seen here and the book more than triples in value.

An American edition was published in 1976 by the specialty house, Bookfinger. Signing a copy, Harrison once referred to his early film novel as a “very odd literary curiosity”.

Another Bride of Frankenstein novelization, this one by Ramsey Campbell writing as “Carl Dreadstone”, was published in 1977 as part of The Universal Horror Library from Berkley Medallion.


14 comments:

Matt Bradshaw said...

I had a couple of those Carl Dreadstone adaptations. I had the Bride of Frankenstein and The Mummy and possibly a couple others. TV reception was spotty where I grew up and affordable home video was several years off so this was my best bet for experiencing a lot of the Universal classics. I also borrowed the name "Dreadstone" for a character in a fiction writing project in college. As I was writing a horror story my teacher pointed the name out as an example "characterization by nomenclature."

David Lee Ingersoll said...

Ramsey Campbell novelized the Bride and the Mummy? I had no idea. That makes me interested in hunting them down. It also gives Ancient Images more of a personal flavor.

Pierre Fournier said...

There were six novels in the Universal Horror Library series, all under the house name of Carl Dreadstone. Ramsey Campbell confirmed that he wrote BRIDE, DRACULA’S DAUGHTER and THE WOLFMAN. He also wrote introductions to all six titles, but neither he nor Piers Dudgeon, the British editor who originally commissioned the series, can recall who wrote THE MUMMY, THE WEREWOLF OF LONDON and THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.

rob! said...

I never knew this existed. How cool!

John Cox said...

Very nice. I've never seen this cover. I actually have a Queensway Bride with a reproduction dust-jacket, but it's completely different. It's just a color image of the Bride. Happy to send a scan if you like.

Max the drunken severed head said...

Didn't THE WOLF MAN get the most positive reviews? That's what I seem to remember...

Gotta get copies of the Campbell books. One of my favorite writers.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. Thanks for this.

Living Dead Girl Nicole said...

I adore the Bride.. I have her tattoo'd pin up style on my arm! We even had bride of frankenstein/frankenstein wedding invitations!! Love this site!! Keep it up!

Pierre Fournier said...

Nicole: Check back here next week (April 18-25). I'll be celebrating The Bride's 75th Anniversary every day, all week!

siderealpress said...

Hello,
a really great cover.
Do you have any images of the spine or rear?
THANKS!

Pierre Fournier said...

Sorry, I have no images of the back cover or spine.

Anonymous said...

Facsimile Dust Jackets LLC has 2 variations on the Egremont dj which can be purchased at $22 plus shipping, The owner will even resize the reproductions to fit any reasonably sized book. I have a copy on order for my Bookfinger edition.

Anonymous said...

I have an original of this edition with dust cover in mint condition.
Where is a good place to sell it?

siderealpress said...

There are a number of specialist dealers in supernatural fiction in the U.K. Or USA. A quick google will find them, Lloyd currey, John knott, cold tonnage, hydraxia etc. Or good old eBay? If it really is pristine it will sell for sure.