What is the full title of Mary Shelley's novel commonly known as 'Frankenstein'?

The full title of Mary Shelley's novel commonly known as Frankenstein is Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

Shelley began writing the novel in 1816 during a stay near Lake Geneva, where a storytelling challenge among Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and John Polidori helped inspire its creation. She completed the manuscript in 1817, and the first edition appeared anonymously in London on 1 January 1818. It was published in three volumes, a standard format for novels of the period.

The subtitle invokes Prometheus, the figure from Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity. That reference highlights the novel's central concern: the consequences of pursuing knowledge and power without accepting responsibility. A common mistake is to call the creature itself Frankenstein; Frankenstein is actually the surname of Victor, the scientist who creates it. The creature is never given a personal name in the novel.