num_pages: 318
description: One of Alasdair Gray's most brilliant creations, Poor Things is a postmodern revision of Frankenstein that replaces the traditional monster with Bella Baxter - a beautiful young erotomaniac brought back to life with the brain of an infant. Godwin Baxter's scientific ambition to create the perfect companion is realized when he finds the drowned body of Bella, but his dream is thwarted by Dr. Archibald McCandless's jealous love for Baxter's creation.The hilarious tale of love and scandal that ensues would be "the whole story" in the hands of a lesser author (which in fact it is, for this account is actually written by Dr. McCandless). For Gray, though, this is only half the story, after which Bella (a.k.a. Victoria McCandless) has her own say in the matter. Satirizing the classic Victorian novel, Poor Things is a hilarious political allegory and a thought-provoking duel between the desires of men and the independence of women, from one of Scotland's most accomplished author.
language: English
title: Poor Things
titlecomplete: Poor Things
characters: Godwin Baxter, Archibald McCandless, Bella Baxter
genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Literary Fiction, Novels, Science Fiction, Gothic, Scotland, Fantasy, Classics, Fiction
ratings_count: 4330
awards: awardedAt: 694252800000
name: Guardian Fiction Award, awardedAt: 694252800000
name: Whitbread Award
category: Novel
publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC