The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein - Peter Ackroyd What would've happened if Dr. Frankenstein had actually lived and knew the Shelleys? That's the question that Peter Ackroyd answers in this book.Frankenstein travels to study at Oxford where he meets Percy Shelley. The two hit it off and become friends. What then follows is a commingling of Shelley's life with the story of Frankenstein. It's a surprising good book, and does seem to play a little with the opinion by some that Mary Shelley did not write Frankenstein. (Some people believe it was Percy).As per Ackroyd, the book is not 100% historically accurate. It's not meant to be. If you are looking for the Claire Claremont/Percy Shelley/Mary Shelley triangle here, you're not going to find it. Godwin's second wife does not make an appearance in this book. Claire's ghost phobia is instead attached to Mary. (As an aside, am I the only person who wonders what was on those diary pages that Mary tore out? Who wonders why Claire and Percy traveled alone together?) Additionally, the story of Harriet (Shelley's first wife) is different (Or is it?). The ghost story challenge, however, is still present.Ackroyd, as always, does a good job of getting his characters right. Shelley feels like one wonder imagine Shelley to feel, as does Mary and Byron, and Polidori. Ackroyd does a wonderful job of getting into character. Frankenstein feels like Shelley's creation. Because of the change in times, Ackroyd's book is more terrifying or terrifying in a different way. He is able to provide detail that Mary Shelley could not. He also throws in questions of reality and madness. This book is a worthy take and companion to [b:Frankenstein|18490|Frankenstein|Mary Shelley|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BUn%2BnHB3L._SL75_.jpg|4836639].