This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel
The purest intentions can stir up the darkest obsessions. In this prequel to Mary Shelley's gothic classic, "Frankenstein", 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein begins a dark journey that will change his life forever. Victor's twin, Konrad, has fallen ill, and no doctor is able to cure him. Unwilling to give up on his brother, Victor enlists his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and best friend Henry on a treacherous search for the ingredients to create the forbidden Elixir of Life. Impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn. Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love - and how much he is willing to sacrifice.
"Adventures do not come more thrilling, gorgeously-written or absorbing than this" -- Amanda Craig The Times 20111030 "I truly can't recommend This Dark Endeavour highly enough. It's a sophisticated novel with a classic feel, it has real drama and tragedy and a morally ambiguous but charismastic character. And the writing is top notch. This book doesn't just appeal to fans of Gothic fiction - it's for anyone who likes a classic read. Don't miss it." www.thebookbag.co.uk "[A] captivating gothic novel for 13+ about the future Dr. Frankenstein and his competitive love for his twin brother. Books this good are for life, not just Christmas." -- Amanda Craig The Times 20111126 "A brilliantly layered exploration of what made Victor Frankenstein become the man he became... Victor's struggle to pit fraternal love against his baser emotions, particularly his animal attraction to their cousin Elizabeth, who loves Konrad, gives a compelling psychological edge to this richly imagined Gothic thriller." -- Dinah Hall The Sudnday Telegraph 20111127 "This is a wonderfully atmospheric story, the sort to get lost in, for 12s and above." -- Philip Womack The Daily Telegraph 20111210
Kenneth Oppel is one of the great contemporary story-tellers. His first novel was published when he was eighteen years old. Since then, he has won extraordinary acclaim for his imaginative works, including the Silverwing trilogy and the Airborn series. The novel Airborn won both a Printz Honor and the Governor General's Award. His last novel Half Brother was named both Children's Book of the Year and Best Young Adult Book of the Year by the Canadian Library Association. Kenneth Oppel lives in Toronto with his family and can be found online at www.kennethoppel.ca
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780857560124 |
| ISBN 10 | 0857560123 |
| Title | This Dark Endeavour |
| Author | Kenneth Oppel |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Penguin Random House Children's UK |
| Year published | 2011-10-06 |
| Number of pages | 384 |
| Prizes | Long-listed for Carnegie Medal 2013 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |