Poor Things

By: Alasdair Gray

Narrated by: Russ Bain, Kathryn Drysdale

Winner of the Whitbread Novel Award and the Guardian Fiction Prize

A life without freedom to choose is not worth having.

Godwin Baxter's scientific ambition to create the perfect companion is realized when he finds the drowned body of the beautiful Bella, who he brings back to life in a Frankenstein-esque feat. But his dream is thwarted by Dr. Archibald McCandless's jealous love for his creation...

But what does Bella think?

This story of true love and scientific daring whirls the listeners from the private operating-theatres of late-Victorian Glasgow through aristocratic casinos, low-life Alexandria and a Parisian bordello, reaching an interrupted climax in a Scottish church.

'A magnificently brisk, funny, dirty, brainy book' London Review of Books

'Visionary, ornate and outrageous' The Independent

'Witty and delightfully written' New York Times

'A brilliant marriage of technique, intelligence, and art.' Kirkus Reviews

©1992 Alasdair Gray (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd

Fiction or Nonfiction I must know!

I found this book because I don’t think I will get to see the movie. I have enjoyed the book. I want to know if it’s fiction or nonfiction but do not know. It takes twists I did not expect which is rare for me. I love that they have a female and male voice. It helps to know who is speaking. The book is no where near what I was expecting from the trailer to the movie. The book is way better than I feel the movie can be. Spoiler alert: it gives off “Fight Club” vibes that is funny in how they twisted it.

The narration was superb

I just didn’t care for the story line much. Although it highlighted the civilization and its mores , this story left me flat

Social commentary

I liked the social commentary on women, wives, nurses, classism, science & education vs money & politics.

different from movie, but that's OK

unpredictable with twists throughout the story...interesting...a good feminist work of fiction...has a specific audience I think

A magnificent tale, true or false!

Poor Things is a masterpiece of contemporary literature in a suit of Victorian science fiction. There is a simplicity to Alasdair Gray's story that is often lacking in today's, yet meaningful like no other. I'll admit, I went into it knowing next to nothing, expecting nothing, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.