The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Written by Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrated by Ralph Cosham

Here are 2 classic thrillers by a master of suspense. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde explores the split nature of man. Dr. Jekyll, a respectable man, transforms into an alter ego named Mr. Hyde who carries out all the wickedness Dr. Jekyll represses. In the body of Mr. Hyde, Jekyll finds freedom from the bonds of social convention but soon finds himself lured deeper into violence, and ultimately murder. The second tale, Markheim, tells of a robber named Markheim who murders a shopkeeper on Christmas day. Award-winning British narrator Ralph Cosham does justice to these 2 bone-chilling tales.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
• Release date: Jan 1, 2002
• ISBN: 9781467611213

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and travel writer. Born the son of a lighthouse engineer, Stevenson suffered from a lifelong lung ailment that forced him to travel constantly in search of warmer climates. Rather than follow his father’s footsteps, Stevenson pursued a love of literature and adventure that would inspire such works as Treasure Island (1883), Kidnapped (1886), Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886), and Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes (1879).

Reviews for The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Een Victoriaanse klassieker, terecht. Beklemmend geschreven, met een mooie opbouw.

[a.berry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"He was wild when he was young; a long while ago to be sure; but in the law of God there is no statute of limitations." - Utterson, Esq.The best thing about old books is the detail in the writing. It makes more obvious the complacency of mind found in the generation of television and wifi.Henry Jekyll recognized that man has two persons living inside them - both good and evil. He was bored with being the "good doctor" and wanted to indulge in mischief without being held accountable for his actions, so he freed his murderous, unscrupulous self in the form of Edward Hyde. At first, had it not been for his evil other's indifference toward him, Jekyll would have been tempted to remain the depraved Mr. Hyde, but eventually they came to resent one another and Hyde became Jekyll's ruin as happens when one chooses their evil self.I'm glad I read this book. I was expecting Mr. Hyde to be as big and ugly as he is in movies, but he was actually a petite man who had an appetite for very bad coupled with a malevolent countenance and a look of deformity that no one could put their finger on.Goodread!

[clancy.coonradt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great piece of literature. Really interesting way of keeping the reader blind to very key pieces of information that would allow for easier identification of potential threats and climaxes. Really enjoy RLS and look forward to reading more of his work.

[icemaiden786 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very creepy story. I didn't know what to expect with this book when I first read it. Everyone knows the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde concept but reading it was different. It wasn't what I expected and I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing. Either way I thought it was an interesting, eerie novel and worth reading at least once. Give it a go.

[regoodrich · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another spectacular book by Robert Louis Stevenson. His writing enthralls me! It's so easy to find yourself held spellbound by his description of settings and characters and mood, painting such a clear picture of every aspect of the story that you can't help but shudder as if experiencing the horrors in person. One of my favorite written descriptions sets a clear image of the early-morning, fog-laden streets of London and the eeriness accompanying the pursuit of a murderer.

"It was by this time about nine in the morning, and the first fog of the season. A great chocolate-coloured pall lowered over heaven, but the wind was continually charging and routing these embattled vapours; so that as the cab crawled from street to street, Mr. Utterson beheld a marvelous number of degrees and hues of twilight; for here it would be dark like the back-end of evening; and there would be a glow of rich, lurid brown, like the light of some strange conflagaration; and here, for a moment, the fog would be quite broken up, and a haggard shaft of daylight would glance in between the swirling wreaths. The dismal quarter of Soho seen under these changing glimpses, with its muddy ways, and slatternly passengers, and its lamps, which had never been extinguished or had been kindled afresh to combat this mournful reinvasion of darkness, seemed, in the lawyer's eyes, like a district of some city in a nightmare."

And this...perfect words to describe the awful demon that was Mr. Edward Hyde.

"Is it the mere radiance of a foul soul that thus transpires through, and transfigures, its clay continent? ....O my poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever I read Satan's signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend.(Edward Hyde)"

I enjoyed this tale; a dark glimpse into the struggles of every man, resisting or succumbing to vile temptations. This was a short story, but an intense read.

[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) :)

[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.

[scottcholstad · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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

[scolgo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pop culture had long ago given me the gist of this story but reading the original classic was an entirely different experience. A very well-paced and well-written piece of horror fiction. I especially enjoyed that the viewpoint comes from a third-party - Doctor Jekyll's lawyer - who is sleuthing around trying to get to the bottom of this 'Mr. Hyde' business. What he discovers will haunt him for the rest of his life.

[shaunesay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first time I've ever read the original Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I'll admit I had no idea it was written by the same author as Treasure Island, which I also have not read yet. I would not have put those two ideas to the same author, so it's been enlightening all around! It's also amazing to me what a short story this really was, only 94 pages, to have inspired so many adaptations and interpretations, movies, etc.

It was an interesting dark fantasy tale with an important lesson about giving in to our baser natures. The more we indulge them, the more it becomes who we are until we're no longer able to hide or control those tendencies.

[gonzalo8046 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nice short read. Even though you know the ending ten pages in, I still enjoyed it.

[bagpuss-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the only Robert Louis Stevenson book I have read and I loved it! It’s very short indeed (just 88 pages long) - the writing is so concise

I sort of knew the basic premise - that a scientist did some sort of experiment which meant he ended up with a ‘nasty’ alter ego, but I really didn’t know how the story would pan out. It wasn’t how I expected - I thought that Mr Hyde would be some kind of hairy monster, but although he was a monster in terms of what he did when in that guise, he resembled a normal human, albeit a distasteful looking one! A very clever and slightly chilling tale!

[magadri-1 · 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.

[jeanned_14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I last read this book for a university assignment and visited it again for a Library Thing reading challenge. On this reading, I did not enjoy the style and structure nearly as much as previously. But I come away considering the imprint this work has had on our society. I am struck by its origins in a dream and its historical position as a precursor to Sigmund Freud's conceptualization of unconscious, socially unacceptable urges as drives of the id. And I consider Stevenson's warning as, in this century, we embrace an ever-increasing pace of scientific and technological advancement:But the temptation of a discovery so singular and profound at last overcame the suggestions of alarm.I will maintain my previous rating of 8 out of 10 stars, not for reading pleasure or literary structure, but as acknowledgment of its continuing legacy and provocative portrait of man's duality.

[karin7-11 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A lawyer and a mad scientist are the two main characters in this gothic, science fiction horror novella. I won’t recount much since the main essentials of the story are quite well known. It’s the dual natures of good and evil fighting in humans and it was so very gothic a look on it, with the crazy mad scientist who looks so good. I thought I’d hate this, but due to the good writing, it was only a dislike and two stars.

[margaretfield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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

[steadfastreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This books was surprisingly fun. It has a slow start for the first few pages, but after that it takes off.

A quick fun little read, definitely worth the time.

[davis22-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A classic always worthy of a revisiting in the classroom! Not just a "monster tale" but a very relevant look at deep seated philosophical problems of identity and accountability. Also continues to remain relevant on the topics of ethics, or morality and the role science does or does not play in the midst of such concerns. Is modern life becoming too fast paced? That first and foremost depends on your definition of living, really.

[roboschro · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"There comes an end to all things; the most capacious measure is filled at last; and this brief condescension to my evil finally destroyed the balance of my soul."It may be difficult for a reader to forget what is half-known about these famous characters, and approach this story afresh. But it's worth doing -- it's a tidy little story, and the title characters embody an intriguing attack on the nature of Victorian morality.

[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.

[christajls · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a quick read but a good one. Mr. Utterson, a well know and respected lawyer in the community begins noticing the menacing and evil behaviour of a newcomer, Mr. Hyde. At the same time he is struck by the strange and inexplicable behaviour of his good friend and client, Dr Jekyll. Evidence suggests to him that Mr Hyde is threatening and/or terrifying his friend, but as he continues to investigate he encounters even stranger behaviour and explanations than he could have ever imagined.Like many of you, it seems like I have always known the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, though I had never read it. I was surprised to find out it was narrated by a third party but found this provided a more well rounded approach to the story. I also found Utterson a very reliable narrator, whose account you could trust. This meant you weren't second guessing if things actually happened or if they were just the imaginings of a doctor whose done one too many experiments.This novella was written beautifully, the language was fun to read and easy to understand. It was easy to picture the Victorian setting and the dark streets and alleys Mr. Hyde would be creeping through. It's a fairly safe bet that you know what's going to happen in the end but Stevenson is such a great writer that you still get caught up in the story and are excited to find out how the truth is discovered. Beyond the story itself it also raises some interesting questions about the power/weakness of one's conscience and the lure of evil and desire.

[swampygirl-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very intriguing story, if perhaps a bit open-ended. I had been meaning to read this book for some time, but only finally got around to it after reading A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I recall being frustrated that I knew the plot before the author wanted me to - so it wasn't thrilling. It was also old-fashioned writing and difficult for me. I def. need to try it again someday....

[the_raingod · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There can't be many people who are unaware of this book's big reveal - and if you don't know the pivotal point of the plot I will refrain from revealing it here (although I would recommend you don't read the preceding reviews where such restraint is not evident). The author evidently was not expecting his story to become so entrenched in popular culture, as the whole book leads up to the point where you discover the mystery behind Mr Hyde. As someone familiar with the premise, the book lost a great deal for me, it's well written but not much happens in modern terms, and without the mystery to draw me in I really kept reading in order to discover how the big reveal was made. I've intended to read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for a long time, and it's such a short book that I certainly don't regret finding the time. I would be inclined to recommend it to young readers, although the language may be a little difficult in places for children, at least the ending may come as something more of a surprise.

[greymowser · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I remember reading this in school, vaguely. I found the book to be a little annoying trying to figure out the writer's meanings to old English words. Were the first time I read it, it was just a horror story, this time I realize there were psychological and possible homosexual connotations. A lot of hidden meanings in the writing. Way different read from my first dip into the pages.

[dlow_54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I originally selected this book because I have it on my bookshelf and I have never had the time to read it. I pulled it off the shelf and placed it by my bed with hopes to finish it before my reading class was over. As it turned out I just never found the time to crack open the cover. Therefore, I searched for the audio version. To my surprised I found it right away at a reseaonable price and by a narrartor with which I was familiar. I have listen to Dick Hill narrate several novels I have read by Sanda Brown. I listened to the book in one night. I was was intrigued by the story but also confused. I had a hard time following the narration. A few times I glanced through the book while i was listening to Dick read the pages. I was surprised with how difficult this book is to read. I didn't think it would be so complicated. I had never thought of this as a text for children, and now I really don't think that it is. I think the text is too difficult for many students, and students in the classes I teach would need a lot of background information taught before a story like this could be even be looked at. I do not forsee reading this book to my class, or for my class. I am glad I read the story and I feel it was important, but I think the text would be better suited for a college level course where students were able to talk about the characters in greater detail and with greater insight. I do recommend this book for adults. The text is a classic and it should still be read because it did explain what I knew about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

[marthaearly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So short, but so powerful. This is one of those stories where you think you know how it goes, but upon reading you find that it has been re-interpreted for so many years in so many forms that it feels completely different. Well, not completely. But still, the decades of alterations made this novella feel fresh and rich. I would have liked it to be longer, since I was so drawn in by the world of dark clouds and sinister encounters, and the novella ends on an abrupt note. However, it was pleasingly eerie and direct while it lasted.

[pegmcdaniel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After reading an Advanced Reading Copy of Nancy Horan's new book, The Wide and Starry Sky, which is about the life of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife, I decided I just had to re-read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It has been many, many years since I'd read it.I am so glad I read this classic novel. So many reviews have been written about it and it has gotten 1 Star up through 5 Stars. I give this short novel 4 Stars. I believe Mr. Stevenson want us to realize that there is some evil in all of us and this novel is certainly convincing. It was a fast read for me even though the story unfolds rather slowly.Some adjectives I will use to describe this novel are gothic, mysterious, horrific, and creepy. There are many more I could use but you get the idea!!I hope to read more of Stevenson's writings. He truly was a Master.

[miss7owl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really quite enjoyed the brooding gloom and moral concerns of this story - encapsulating what I think of as the best of the gothic: emotional excess accompanied by the most stringent moral societal norms. In a way, it's a pity that the story is so well known... there's no mystery any more about this strange degenerate Hyde, and why he holds the virtuous citizen Dr Jekyll in his blackmailing thrall!There were quite a few parallels with Frankenstein, which I was just teaching not that long ago, but it was interesting to contrast Jekyll's motivations for his scientific endeavours, with Frankenstein's. But I realise it would be a spoiler to say any more, so my recommendation: read them both for yourself!

[alexmdac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Although I already knew what happens in this tale, I found it a gripping read and the climax very effective. I enjoyed the quaint Victorian language and moral values.The weather updates to be found throughout the narrative feature colourful metaphors and similes that I hadn't seen before. This book would be useful reading for anyone who would like to make conversation with people as obsessed with climatic conditions as Robert Louis Stevenson clearly was. It'd be a good book for a flight to the UK.