STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE(Illustrated)

By Robert Louis Stevenson

Special Features:

• Illustrated Edition: Contains 15 meticulous and haunting illustrations bringing the thrilling narrative to life.
• Enhanced Content: Includes a concise summary, detailed character list, and a compelling author biography of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Classic Literature: A timeless masterpiece presented in a high-quality format for your reading pleasure.
Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the fog-shrouded streets of Victorian London in Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless masterpiece, "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." This illustrated edition immerses readers in a haunting tale of dual identities, moral conflict, and the inherent battle between good and evil within the human soul.
The narrative unfolds the mysterious and eerie life of the respected Dr. Henry Jekyll, a scientist plagued by the contradictions within himself and the societal moral constraints. In a quest to separate his inherent evil, Dr. Jekyll concocts a potion, only to unleash his malevolent alter ego, Mr. Edward Hyde. Hyde, uninhibited by morality, perpetrates heinous acts, leaving a trail of fear and horror in the shadowy alleys of London.
As the transformations become uncontrollable, the struggle intensifies, depicting the eternal battle between light and shadow. The story is ingeniously unraveled through the investigations of Mr. Gabriel John Utterson, Dr. Jekyll's loyal friend and lawyer, whose pursuit of truth reveals shocking and devastating secrets.
This edition, enriched with vivid and atmospheric illustrations, a concise summary, a detailed character list, and an insightful biography of Robert Louis Stevenson, provides an enriched reading experience, allowing readers to delve deeper into the philosophical and psychological nuances of the novella. The haunting imagery and enhanced content invite readers to explore the enigma of duality and the complexities of the human psyche, making it a valuable addition to the collection of every classic literature enthusiast.
Experience the tension, intrigue, and revelations in this unparalleled narrative, which stands as a profound reflection on human nature, morality, and the untapped mysteries of the human soul. This book remains a riveting and thought-provoking read, continuing to captivate and resonate with readers worldwide.


 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Micheal Smith
• Release date: Jan 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9791223003015

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson was born on 13 November 1850, changing his second name to ‘Louis’ at the age of eighteen. He has always been loved and admired by countless readers and critics for ‘the excitement, the fierce joy, the delight in strangeness, the pleasure in deep and dark adventures’ found in his classic stories and, without doubt, he created some of the most horribly unforgettable characters in literature and, above all, Mr. Edward Hyde.

Book preview

STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE

ABOUT STEVENSON

Robert Louis Stevenson, born on November 13, 1850, in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a trailblazing literary genius whose wandering existence was almost as captivating as his writings. Though he is most known for his writings Treasure Island (1883) and Strange case  (1886), Stevenson's life was a tapestry of events and trips that impacted his many works.

Stevenson emerged from a lineage of engineers but was himself a fragile existence, with health as unpredictable as the Scottish weather. Afflicted by chronic respiratory illness, he sought solace in the labyrinths of his imagination, creating worlds teeming with adventure and philosophical inquiry. His health troubles spurred wanderlust; the quest for congenial climes led him to traverse across the United States, the South Seas, and Europe.

Stevenson was, in essence, a metaphysical explorer, reflecting upon the dualities of human nature, the continuous dialogues between morality and temptation. It was these explorations that breathed life into Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, a novella reverberating with the paradoxes and dark corners of the human soul. The hypnotic realms of adventure in Treasure Island, laden with pirates, maps, and treasures, were stimulated by Stevenson’s peripatetic lifestyle and his profound understanding of the human proclivity towards greed and redemption.

Though an inhabitant of the 19th century, Stevenson cultivated friendships that defied societal norms of his times. He befriended people from myriad backgrounds and engaged in the discourse of cultural pluralism and the ethos of indigenous people, especially during his time in Samoa, where he was affectionately dubbed Tusitala, the teller of tales. He became an integral part of the Samoan community, engaging in local politics and championing the rights and customs of the local people against colonial intrusion. His burial place atop Mount Vaea reflects his profound connection with Samoa, a land that embraced him warmly.

In his relationships, Stevenson displayed a remarkable depth of affection and understanding. His bond with his wife, Fanny Osbourne, transcended conventional romantic alliances. Fanny was not just his life partner but also his muse, nurse, and critic, weaving her insights and strength into the fabric of his life and work. Their unconventional love story, marked by mutual respect and intellectual companionship, was a testament to Stevenson’s disregard for societal judgments and his commitment to personal happiness and intellectual compatibility.

The versatility in Stevenson’s writing manifested in poems, essays, travel writings, and letters. His works such as A Child’s Garden of Verses (1885) reveal his extraordinary ability to resonate with children, demonstrating a profound empathy and an unparalleled understanding of a child’s world of wonders and fears. His essays, reflecting his philosophical contemplations and observations, were insightful dialogues with himself and the world around him, portraying a man constantly in conversation with the cosmos.

Robert Louis Stevenson, who sailed into the eternal seas on December 3, 1894, in Samoa, was not just a novelist or a poet but a sage who journeyed through the terrains of human experiences and emotions. His ceaseless quest for understanding the human spirit, his explorations of the realms of morality and existence, and his exceptional ability to traverse seamlessly between the worlds of adults and children make him an enduring figure in world literature, whose tales and reflections continue to reverberate through the corridors of literary exploration.

SUMMARY

This novel is a haunting and thrilling tale that delves deep into the dichotomies of good and evil that reside within the human soul. Authored by Robert Louis Stevenson, this compelling novella unfolds in the gloomy and fog-ridden streets of Victorian London, where a respected and amiable scientist, Dr. Henry Jekyll, harbors a shadowy secret.

Dr. Jekyll, plagued by the contradictions of his inner desires and societal expectations, concocts a mysterious elixir with the aim of segregating his inherent evil. He transforms into Mr. Hyde, a sinister and malevolent alter ego, free from the constraints of morality and conscience. Mr. Hyde indulges in vile and violent acts, leaving the city terrified and enshrouded in mystery. The tension escalates as the transitions become more frequent and uncontrollable, illustrating the constant struggle between restraint and desire, between the civilized and the primal.

The novella is a labyrinth of mysteries, slowly untangled through the eyes of Mr. Gabriel John Utterson, Dr. Jekyll's lawyer and confidant. The growing horror and intrigue reach a crescendo when the devastating and shocking truth behind Dr. Jekyll’s dual existence is revealed, leaving readers contemplating the eternal battle between light and shadow within every individual.

This masterpiece by Stevenson is not merely a chilling tale of horror but is also a profound exploration of the human psyche, the conflicts of morality, and the repercussions of unchecked ambition and suppressed desires. This Book stands as an enduring reflection of the complexities and the untapped mysteries of the human soul, drawing readers into its enigmatic realms and leaving them captivated by its enduring questions about human nature and duality.

CHARACTERS LIST

Dr. Henry Jekyll:

In London, a well-known scientist and doctor.

Struggles with his own duality and concocts a potion to split his good and evil aspects.

Under the effect of the potion, he transforms into Mr. Hyde.

Mr. Edward Hyde:

The evil and violent alter ego of Dr. Jekyll, formed after consuming a special potion.

Commits heinous crimes without remorse.

Mr. Gabriel John Utterson:

A lawyer and the friend of Dr. Jekyll.

The narrative unfolds largely from his perspective as he investigates the strange occurrences related to Mr. Hyde.

Dr. Hastie Lanyon:

A doctor and one of Dr. Jekyll’s old friends.

Distances himself from Jekyll due to differing scientific views but later becomes involved in the unfolding mystery.

Mr. Richard Enfield:

Mr. Utterson’s cousin and a known gentleman in London.

Witnesses one of Mr. Hyde's crimes, playing an integral part in initiating the investigation into Mr. Hyde's identity.

Poole:

Dr. Jekyll’s loyal butler.

Witnesses the transformations and is deeply concerned about his master, aiding Mr. Utterson in uncovering the truth.

Sir Danvers Carew:

A kind and well-liked Member of Parliament.

Becomes a significant victim of Mr. Hyde.

Inspector Newcomen:

Mr. Utterson and a police detective investigate the death of Sir Danvers Carew.

Contents

Story Of The Door

Search For Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll Was Quite At Ease

The Carew Murder Case

Incident Of The Letter

Remarkable Incident Of Dr. Lanyon

Incident At The Window

The Last Night

Dr. Lanyon's Narrative

Henry Jekyll's Full Statement Of The Case

Story Of The Door

MR. UTTERSON the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance, that was never lighted by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment; lean, long, dusty, dreary, and yet somehow lovable. At friendly meetings, and when the wine was to his taste, something eminently human beaconed from his eye; something indeed which never found its way into his talk, but which spoke not only in these silent symbols of the after-dinner face, but more often and loudly in the acts of his life. He was austere with himself; drank gin when he was alone, to mortify a taste for vintages; and though he enjoyed the theatre, had not crossed the doors of one for twenty years. But he had an approved tolerance for others; sometimes wondering, almost with envy, at the high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds; and in any extremity inclined to help rather than to reprove.

I incline to Cain's heresy, he used to say quaintly: I let my brother go to the devil in his own way. In this character, it was frequently his fortune to be the last reputable acquaintance and the last good influence in the lives of down-going men. And to such as these, so long as they came about his chambers, he never marked a shade of change in his demeanour.

No doubt the feat was easy to Mr. Utterson; for he was undemonstrative at the best, and even his friendship seemed to be founded in a similar catholicity of good-nature. It is the mark of a modest man to accept his friendly circle ready-made from the hands of opportunity;