Poor Things

One of Alasdair Gray's most brilliant creations, <em>Poor Things</em> is a postmodern revision of <em>Frankenstein</em><br />that replaces the traditional monster with Bella Baxter—a beautiful<br />young erotomaniac brought back to life with the brain of an infant.<br />Godwin Baxter's scientific ambition to create the perfect companion is<br />realized when he finds the drowned body of Bella, but his dream is<br />thwarted by Dr. Archibald McCandless's jealous love for Baxter's<br />creation.<br /><br /><br />The hilarious tale of love and scandal that ensues would be "the<br />whole story" in the hands of a lesser author (which in fact it is, for<br />this account is actually written by Dr. McCandless). For Gray, though,<br />this is only half the story, after which Bella (a.k.a. Victoria<br />McCandless) has her own say in the matter.<br /><br /><br />Satirizing the classic Victorian novel, <em>Poor Things</em> is a<br />hilarious political allegory and a thought-provoking duel between the<br />desires of men and the independence of women, from one of Scotland's<br />most accomplished authors.