This is a volume of the publication "THE BRITISH CRITIC" that contains a rare, early 1st edition book review of the classic horror tale "FRANKENSTEIN, or The Modern Prometheus" by Mary Shelley. 1818; F.C. and J. Rivington; London. Volume IX comprised of six monthly issues (January through June). Within the April issue is an anonymous, scathing review of "Frankenstein," published only a few months after the January, 1818 1st printing of the novel. "Frankenstein" is also listed within the "Table of Books Reviewed" at the front, as well as within the "Index" at the back. Three-quarter leather binding with gilt lettering on the spine.
The rather lengthy review spans seven pages and was quite harsh...
"We need scarcely say, that these volumes have neither principle, object, nor moral; the horror which abounds in them is too grotesque and bizarre ever to approach near the sublime, and when we did not hurry over the pages in disgust, we sometimes paused to laugh outright: and yet we suspect, that the diseased and wandering imagination, which has stepped out of all legitimate bounds, to frame these disjointed combinations and unnatural adventures, might be disciplined into something better."
...as well as inarguably sexist:
"The writer of it is, we understand, a female; this is an aggravation of that which is the prevailing fault of the novel; but if our authoress can forget the gentleness of her sex, it is no reason why we should; and we shall therefore dismiss the novel without further comment."