Our Hideous Progeny

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

'It is not the monster you have to fear, but the monster it makes of men.'

Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her uncle disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic but she doesn't know why or how. She and her husband are trying to make a name for themselves as paleontologists but, in 1850s' London, scientific success requires wealth and connections - neither of which they possess. But then Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the truth behind her great-uncle's past, of his attempts to create a living being and the creature that ultimately killed him. Perhaps this idea will prove to be their salvation...

Our Hideous Progeny is a sumptuous tale of ambition and obsession, of forbidden love and sabotage; a novel that blends classic, immersive storytelling with contemporary themes.

©2023 C. E. McGill (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critics Review

  • In this gothic adventure, debut novelist McGill builds on Shelley’s iconic story by adding sharp-minded female protagonist Mary, who sets out to discover the truth about her great-uncle Victor Frankenstein’s disappearance in the Arctic.

    STYLIST, 'The best new feminist retellings of classic stories to read in 2023'

  • McGill’s prose is rich and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the eerie and foreboding tone of the Gothic tradition. The characters are complex and layered . . . Our Hideous Progeny is a masterful work of Gothic horror that will leave readers on the edge of their seat.

    GLAMOUR

  • Evocatively and compassionately, Our Hideous Progeny seeks a way to tell the stories of those whose tales cannot fit in one book, those poor creatures who remain lost or forgotten

    NEW YORKER

  • Our Hideous Progeny takes inspiration from Mary Shelley’s masterpiece along with the Victorian fascination with scientific innovation and the prehistoric world. This wonderful debut evolves into a gripping Gothic tale of grief and ambition, passion and intrigue.

    JESS KIDD, author of THE NIGHT SHIP

  • A wonderful book; dark, passionate, multi-layered and rich with enticing detail.

    JOANNE HARRIS, author of CHOCOLAT and THE STRAWBERRY THIEF

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