The Strange Case Of Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde

Written by Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrated by David Shaw-Parker

Robert Louis Stevenson is part of the rich tradition of Scottish literature and as well as classics such as Treasure Island he also wrote the dark, disturbing and schziophrenic Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde. It is thrilling in its horror and beautifully positions the dual nature of man as each side attempts to control the other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Copyright Group
• Release date: Jan 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781780003207

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. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde

[ffortuna_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Small but incredibly effective. Like, I know Jekyll and Hyde are the same person. Everyone knows that. I still felt actually horrified at the reveal of that fact, because Stevenson did such a good job drawing the main characters and the people surrounding them. Like The Picture of Dorian Gray, (Wilde was an admirer of the book), it explores inner and outer natures by dividing them, showing what people might do if it would never be found out and never physically affect them, and it's all the more compelling because their flaws start out so small and relatable. Jekyll didn't suffer from a deep dark secret at first, he just didn't want anyone to know about his small flaws. Excellent for the Halloween season, and especially good read in company with Dorian Gray, because both are so complete, so layered, and so subtle where it counts.

[pennsylady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very good audio Oct reread ...."split personality"....."dissociative identity disorder" ...psychological thriller

[joe73-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story. Should have been a bit longer. But all things considered I can really respect the writer for keeping it short. In many cases writers from this period tend to go on and on. If Stoker would have penned this it would have never ended and rolled over into the realm of politics. The story was very effective in showing the division between the personalities. This was a relief from Prince Otto which I read in the same day.

[msaucier818 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another classic that I surprisingly enjoyed. This story is well known to anyone who has followed anything to do with pop-culture, but as is often the case, the original was not all that similar to the many different adaptations. The story is basically about Dr. Jeckyll and his journey into becoming two people. Mr. Hyde is obviously his evil side, and the story simply goes through how it came to be and the torments of the Dr. in dealing with the transition. A good story that looks into the human mind and its through process. It does not evolve into any comic book type of story and Mr. Hyde is not a tragic character.

This was a super-quick read and I would recommend it to any fans of literature.

[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.

[gregorio_roth · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A short Novella that digs into the Psychology of the angelic man, made before the fall; and the dirty creatures, that lies in all humans. The psychology developed and explained here is great. If you are looking for a long read, this will not suffice.

[bettesbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was expecting more. Why? Because everyone knows the tale, I just assumed the writing would be better.

[librarycin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

People have been wondering where Dr. Jekyll has been disappearing to and why the horrible Mr. Hyde seems to be such a good “friend” to Jekyll. This was ok. It might have been better if I didn't know what was going on, just for having heard what the story's about. But then, maybe not. It just wasn't really holding my interest. At least it was short and quick to read.

[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.

[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.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is an 1886 publication.What a strange case, indeed! This classic tale of horror is one that, of all the old movies, like Dracula, the Wolfman and Frankenstein and all their various incarnations, I watched repeatedly growing up, I just didn’t really care for all that much. I did, later in life, watch a movie version of this tale starring Spencer Tracey, and an all- star cast, which was petty good. Still, when it came to reading the book, unless it was a classroom assignment, I don’t think I ever volunteered read it, and if I did read it somewhere back there, I honestly couldn’t recall it, which is why I decided to select it for my classic horror Halloween read, this year. Everyone knows the setup for this short story. A scientist, Dr. Jekyll, is resentful of having to repress the darker side of his nature and happens across a solution- one that allows him to express this side of himself by becoming, through the aid of ‘medication’, Mr. Hyde. People who encounter this Mr. Hyde is put off by him, and do not understand his hold over the respectable and well-liked, Dr. Jekyll. As the good doctor proceeds with his experiments, he discovers he is almost addicted to his alter ego- who is gradually becoming the dominant personality and becoming more and more dangerous with each passing day. This is one horror/sci-fi story, one could find all manner of allegory, making it one of the more thought-provoking tales of this genre. My mind went to the duality of people who often present one face in public, hiding their baser inclinations, exposing false morality, and hypocrisy. Other themes are centered around the Victorian era itself, and some of the current political climate- a less obvious theme, in my opinion, but not to be dismissed. Naturally, one could also go with the classic good vs evil trope-or even a more profound nod at spiritual warfare- as the good side of ourselves continually does battle with the dark side, and the fear that our darker impulses will win out in the end. Bottom line- All these possible themes make sense, and they each give readers a great deal to chew on, so that the book is not just a horror novel, but a classic in many other ways as well. Overall, I’m pleased I chose this novella to read this year. I’d considered it many times in the past, but always vowed to read it ‘next’ year. Now, I wish I had not waited so long!! 5 stars

[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...