January 1

On the 1st in 1818, Mary Shelley published her novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. It is an interesting book with quite an interesting title. Shelley’s use of the sub-title The Modern Prometheus not only adds to the flavor of the book but also gives the browsing reader a hint of what awaits them between the covers of their purchase. At no place on the cover did Miss Shelley find it necessary to include the words ‘A Novel’. I have noticed a very disturbing feature in books lately. Quite a few authors or, perhaps, their publishers, for some inexplicable reason have begun sub-titling their books with the caption ‘A Novel’. Is there a real concern in the publishing world that a prospective reader, while wandering through the stacks at The Strand Book Store, is going to confuse a book with a toaster?