Quick Classics Collection: Gothic: Turn of the Screw, Dracula, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Written by Henry James, Bram Stoker and Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrated by Virginia Mckenna, Bruce Alexander and Tom Baker

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time.

Horror, mystery and suspense abound in this collection of the nation’s favourite gothic stories. From the foggy streets of London to the hills of Transylvania and the grounds of a country estate, relive the fear that these tales have been igniting in listeners for over one hundred years.

These classic stories are read by Born Free’s Virginia McKenna; Dr. Who’s Tom Baker; and A Touch of Frost’s Bruce Alexander.

This collection includes:
• The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, read by Virginia McKenna
• Dracula by Bram Stoker, read by Bruce Alexander
• The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, read by Tom Baker

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Sep 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9780008440404

Henry James

Henry James (1843–1916) was an American writer, highly regarded as one of the key proponents of literary realism, as well as for his contributions to literary criticism. His writing centres on the clash and overlap between Europe and America, and The Portrait of a Lady is regarded as his most notable work.

Reviews for Quick Classics Collection

[martialalex92 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Pretty underwhelming. Even during the "big reveal" he tells the whole story from his current perspective which kind of ruins any ability to do something interesting with the narrator.

[missbrangwen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novella was very different from what I had expected it to be. I must admit that reading it was a bit laborious to me because well, like most people I already knew the solution to the mystery (although I only knew the barest facts), and the story is a little slow, so I basically waited for something interesting to happen. In spite of that, the actual solution - in its details - did surprise me, and I found the ending to be very chilling. It actually gave me the creeps, and I did not expect that from this story. It was worth the read for the last one or two pages alone.

[electrascaife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A reread for me, but it had been long enough that I was ready to revisit it while Charlie read it for the first time for his ELA class. It's funny how so many of these kinds of classic stories, when appropriated for movies and TV, take on a completely different life and end up looking not much at all like their originals. But it's not at all surprising is that it's the stories with such potential for carrying higher truths that get this treatment - this is what myths do (function as vehicles for every new teller's message), and in that way stories like Jekyll and Hyde are very close to belonging to a kind of mythology. So, although I like Treasure Island loads more, I still appreciate the qualities inherent in this one.

[lara335 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What was going on in the 1880s to produce not only The Strange Case but also Dorian Gray? Victorian repression?This gets an extra * because it’s a Classic that has inspired lots of films, but it made for a dull read - because I knew the mystery, and largely because it is told rather than shown, and the characters are so sketchily drawn that I wasn’t engaged. The story is mostly related by a Mr Utterson, who is concerned about his friend Dr Jekyll. Off stage a child is attacked and a man murdered. Then eventually Utterson breaks into Jeykll’s laboratory & reads Jeykll’s own account of what he had been experimenting with. Jeykll made a potion that could separate his good character from his bad: he could plod with respectability then dive into a sea of freedom, conscience free.For me, the most moving part of the novel was a throwaway sentence, setting the scene, of ragged children huddling in doorways, so much for Victorian respectability.

[tobinelliott · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can't imagine why it's taken me until now to read this novel, but it has.

Obviously I'd been missing something wonderful.

Can't say what I'd expected before starting—likely a somewhat trashy pulp type novel. Instead, I got a gorgeously written introspective story of a highly tortured protagonist. Fantastic stuff.

As a side note, after reading this, it becomes very clear where Stan Lee came to borrow ideas for the Hulk character.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A short book. At first it does not reveal the connection between Jekyill & Hyde. It is only revealed near the end. Very well done classic.

[wickenden-285487 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this some time ago but can barely remember the text. I'm going to read it again.

[james_patrick_joyce · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was not a fan of this book.

Dry, boring, focused on details that aren't directly relevant and... it was dull. Lifeless. When the main bad guy becomes hunted, he just disappears. Poof. No thrills, just... consternation. Yawn.

This isn't a bashing of classics. I've enjoyed many pre-20th century novels and stories. Some didn't work on me, while others did. This one didn't.

[fingerpost_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Everyone knows the outline of the story, so I'll bypass that. As with "Frankenstein" the novel is less horror and more philosophical than all the various film versions that have been made. Stevenson speculates that all people have both good and evil within them, and we all have a base nature that would secretly like to release the evil side, our more carnal desires, if only we could release that side with impunity, and without losing our good side. But, in releasing our baser instincts we automatically lose our more admirable traits, making it a slippery slope, when we give in to what we know is wrong, but desire all the same.The first two thirds of the book were moderately entertaining as a novel. The final third, the resolution, was pretty much pure philosophical pondering.

[comfypants · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A scientist is somehow connected with an unsavory man.2.5/4 (Okay).The last chapter, which is Jekyll's account of the story from beginning to end, is pretty good. The rest of the book is driven by suspense, which of course is nonexistent to a modern reader. "Gee, who could this Hyde fellow be? How ever could the good Dr. Jekyll have become associated with a monster like him, I wonder?"

[mike_b-645943 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde reference is so common in our culture that I thought I knew the story. The story is so much more than I expected.

[aehotchkiss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Did not pick up this book until well in my 30s, despite its place in popular culture for over a century. A fantastic short read - took me a minute to connect the dots of who was who and how they knew each other but would highly recommend this classic to anyone looking for an interesting piece of sci-fi written before the 20th century.

[lydia1879 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this using my Serial reader app and I was really happy with it!

I knew it was a classic, and, much like classics, it was a book that I'd always meant to read, or intended to read but never actually read.

I loved the atmosphere that Stevenson created. His somehow empty, foggy, cacophonous London was brought to life. I didn't find the language too hard or difficult to follow at all, which surprised me. I liked the tension for the majority of the novel -- Stevenson crafted tension through letters, confessionals and those late-night walks around London where all sorts of horrors happen.

I didn't care too much for the characters, but I definitely admired the author's writing, his language and how accessible the book is after all this time.

Even though I knew the ending, I still found it readable and hope you do too. c:

[scottcholstad · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A classic later surpassed by many but at the time, very original and quite good.

[samantha100_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Elegantly told and suspenseful, this classic story certainly stands the test of time. I read the Keynotes Classics edition. I especially appreciated the introductory key written by Michelle M. White. She provides interesting information about the author and offers valuable suggestions about what to look for in the story. As a result, I believe I got much more from this reading than I did when I first read it. Highly recommended.

[shahnareads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One of those 'classics' on everyones to be read lists.
It's alright.

[readingover50 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am watching the new season of Penny Dreadful and they are featuring Dr. Jekyll this year. I realized I have never read this book, so I decided to pick it up in preparation for the show.

The writing feels very dense, and the pacing is slow. The reader slowly gets a feeling of dread, rather than outright scares. This is common with many of the horror stories of the period that I have read.

The story is interesting, with much musing on the nature of good and evil. It was a bit slower paced than I like, but this is a short book and easy to read in a day.

[sturlington_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Along with FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA, this short novel makes up the holy triumvirate of early horror. It asks the question: What is the nature of man's soul? The answer is that we all have a dark side, a side without a conscience, that lives only for its own pleasure without regard for anyone else. This is the Mr. Hyde that emerges when Jekyll drinks his magic potion, and he repulses everyone he meets. As Jekyll discovers, if we give free reign to the Hyde imprisoned within us, he grows stronger and asserts himself more and more, until he threatens to take over entirely. Despite being afflicted by the usual Victorian floridness of language (some skimming required), DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE is a highly readable, if rather circuitous, story. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the evolution of the horror genre.

[chirikosan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book was okay. Too bad at only 40 pages, that I finished reading it in less than an hour. Would have wanted it to have been longer and the plot more developed.

[sometimeunderwater · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Bet this was a blitz before everyone and their kid knew the secret twist. A fine gothic novella, proceeding on railroad towards the ending you already knew was coming.

[williemeikle-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's not called a classic without good reason. It's an almost perfectly plotted short novel, all the parts complementing each other, all serving to build tension and anticipation. The good doctor is suitably tragic, Hyde is suitably degenerate and, despite having seen the multitude of adaptations over the years, it still feels remarkably fresh and modern. All of Stevenson's stylistic flourishes are on show, as well as his rarely bettered storytelling ability. I'd give it six stars if I could.

[stahl2ricco · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

“... that man is not truly one, but truly two.”The idea that we all have a dark side? Well, certainly the main character of this story does! Dr. Henry Jekyll meets/creates/releases Edward Hyde, “The evil side of my nature,...”, and is not the same for it! It's a quick read, well except for the last chapter that draaaaags on, and an important story in the history of "horror" literature, so I'm glad I read it! Not scary by today's standards, but still a freaky idea and one that has been repeated often! I wonder which of my two halves would be the dominant one? Or do I have more than two? Hmm...

[john257hopper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a re-read of this classic 19th century novella which has been the inspiration behind so many spin-offs since. It is a taut and atmospheric piece of writing, and the conclusion that Jekyll and Hyde are one and the same, two sides of the same being, only becomes evident near the end - it is hard for us to understand how this would have shocked and thrilled the reader in 1886, so familiar has the Jekyll and Hyde motif become.

[starla_aurora · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

interesting... not what I remember from 15 yrs ago. that's what happens with memory and Hollywood influence.

[borrows0n0wants · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love the story. However, since nearly 98% of the population is familiar with this story, it is kind of a drag to read this since you know how everything unfolds. I also didn't find the way in which the story was told very captivating. It is such a thin book, and I had a terrible time getting through it. I actually skipped parts in this book because they were so dreadfully boring.

[benuathanasia · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hmmm...I was always under the impression that this was a horror story. I guess not. It was very interesting, but the widely-known "twist" kept me from fully enjoying this story. Had I not known that Hyde=Jekyll, I think it would have been infinitely better.

[margaretfield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

might be the best crafted short story I've ever read

[rajivc_18 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had read this book many years back, and read it again. It is indeed one of the more fascinating books that I have read. It's been a while since I read some of the old classics ( I started with Bertie Wooster!), and it took one or two pages before I got back into the swing of it allThe concept is incredible, and does indeed hark to the present when we are trying all sorts of brain and other experiments. It does teach us the dangers of meddling too much with biology, and playing God. Beautiful book, Needs to be widely read again

[ghr4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It would have been a treat to read Robert Louis Stevenson's classic horror tale Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde without the foreknowledge of the now familiar story or having seeen its multiple film adaptations. A well deserved sensation when first published, it remains a sturdy tale of terror, psychological conflict, and the frightening duality of human nature. Stevenson artfully lays out clues for the reader to guess the identity of Mr. Hyde, and the final chapter, recasting the events from Dr. Jekyll's viewpoint, provides a chilling conclusion.

[heycaye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book would have shocked me more if only I didn't know what the real mystery was. But Stevenson's novella (I actually think it's more like a short story) is such a masterpiece that it's inevitably being referred to a lot of times. In my case I first heard of it through Van Helsing, and I was really fascinated by the thought of having dual identities. I even went so far as to name my two sim cards (my phone's dual-sim) after Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. #deadserious

So now, at least I know what the story behind the two famous characters really is. It sounded more like a mandatory thing to me, reading this book. (Though I hoped it wasn't! If only I read this before getting wind of the cultural references) :)