Public Domain Texts

To Mrs. Saville, England. St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17—. You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the

To Mrs. Saville, England. Archangel, 28th March, 17—. How slowly the time passes here, encompassed as I am by frost

To Mrs. Saville, England. July 7th, 17—. My dear Sister, I write a few lines in haste to say that

To Mrs. Saville, England. August 5th, 17—. So strange an accident has happened to us that I cannot forbear recording

I am by birth a Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic. My ancestors

We were brought up together; there was not quite a year difference in our ages. I need not say that

When I had attained the age of seventeen my parents resolved that I should become a student at the university

From this day natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole

It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that

Clerval then put the following letter into my hands. It was from my own Elizabeth: “My dearest Cousin, “You have

On my return, I found the following letter from my father:—     “My dear Victor, “You have probably waited

We passed a few sad hours until eleven o’clock, when the trial was to commence. My father and the rest

Nothing is more painful to the human mind than, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession

I spent the following day roaming through the valley. I stood beside the sources of the Arveiron, which take their

“It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being; all the events of that period

“I lay on my straw, but I could not sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the day. What chiefly

“I now hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate events that impressed me with feelings

“Some time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was one which could not fail to impress

“Such was the history of my beloved cottagers. It impressed me deeply. I learned, from the views of social life

“Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which

The being finished speaking and fixed his looks upon me in the expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered,

Day after day, week after week, passed away on my return to Geneva; and I could not collect the courage

London was our present point of rest; we determined to remain several months in this wonderful and celebrated city. Clerval

I sat one evening in my laboratory; the sun had set, and the moon was just rising from the sea;

I was soon introduced into the presence of the magistrate, an old benevolent man with calm and mild manners. He

The voyage came to an end. We landed, and proceeded to Paris. I soon found that I had overtaxed my

It was eight o’clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the shore, enjoying the transitory light,

My present situation was one in which all voluntary thought was swallowed up and lost. I was hurried away by