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Welcome to the second Adam’s Book Club Newsletter.
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October's choice is Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, 1818 by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.
In 1816, Mary Shelley (then Mary Godwin), Percy Bysshe Shelley, and a few friends were all in Lake Geneva and staying with Lord Byron at his Villa Diodati.
The group stayed for three days during this famous ‘Year without Summer’. Confined indoors because of the dark and stormy weather, this incredible group of writers read ghost stories aloud to pass the time. One night, Byron challenged them all to each write a chilling story of their own. From this challenge, the idea for Frankenstein was formed in Mary’s mind.
The novel was first published anonymously in 1818, and in 1831, a revised edition was published under Mary Shelley's name.
An obvious choice perhaps for Halloween season. I first read Frankenstein on my brother’s recommendation. Initially I thought I wouldn’t like it. I had come to associate the word Frankenstein with a Halloween themed green monster with a bolt through its neck and slurred words. My brother told me that this association couldn’t be more incorrect. He was right.
It quickly became one of my favourite works. I loved it so much that I am absolutely thrilled to have an excuse to read it again. I would love to hear your thoughts on the book. If you want to send me your comments then I will include a selection of them in our next newsletter.
Extra Reading:
Alastor or the Spirit of Solitude and Other Poems by Mary’s husband, Percy.
‘The Poem entitled ‘Alastor’ may be considered an allegorical of one of the most interesting situations of the human mind. It represents a youth of uncorrupted feelings and adventurous genius’
Published in his early 20’s, Alastor; or, the Spirit of Solitude is considered Shelly’s first major work and a visionary piece of prose. From this publication, Shelly established himself as a key figure in the so-called Young Romantics circle alongside Byron and Keats.
A beautiful first edition of this work will be offered in our Rare Books & Manuscripts auciton February 2027.
Until next time, happy reading!
Stephanie
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
It’s hard to believe that this was a work of non fiction. The disturbing story will probably haunt me for a very long time. Nevertheless, I found myself captivated. I can now see why the true crime genre has such a grip on people. I enjoyed it in the sense that it shocked me. Capote’s mastery of storytelling made this chilling story a thrill.
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John ffrench was an instrumental figure in the design industry in Ireland and a distinguished pioneer of Irish studio pottery.
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"I should declare my hand. I have a weakness for pictures that punch above their physical weight, and for artists who have been quietly underrated for too long. This pair is both. They are intimate enough to live with at close quarters and serious enough to repay any amount of looking. If the market has lately shown signs of catching up with eighteenth-century Irish painting and I think it has, these two small panels feel, to me, like exactly the sort of thing that will look obvious in twenty years’ time."
Adam’s is honoured to present works from the collection of Lord Rossmore in the upcoming Country House Collections auction at Howth Castle on 28th April. It is seldom that an influential Irish family collection that has survived through the generations comes to the open market.
Works Sold at Adam’s Now in the Irish National Collection
A great opportunity to purchase both established and lesser-known artist’s work at an accessible price point, the Online Picture Auction is the first of many sales to be hosted at Adam’s in 2026. It is perfect for those looking to start a collection and the discerning collector alike.
Through this article, let our expert Adam Pearson guiding you to the (re)discovery of the once established Irish painter Richard O’Neill.
Buying at Auction and the Role of Antiques in a Modern Home
Important Irish Art Auction Highlights
Oliver Dowling Collection by Aidan Dunne
2024 is a year in which Adam’s wants to recognise the key role buying antique furniture and furnishings at auction contributes greatly to the sustainable initiative. In 2019 the Environmental Protection Agency reported stark figures that each year in Ireland 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture goes into landfill. Similar to the problem of ‘fast fashion’, the constant production and consumption of new items is leading to rapidly growing waste problem. We want to acknowledge those who are already buying second hand or antique furniture at auction and to encourage new buyers by highlighting the benefits of acquiring affordable, well-made quality items that are built to last.
James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
