Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Barnes & Noble Classics
Pages
269
Description
A London physician leads a double life when he discovers a drug that alters his appearance and disposition.
Description
Idealistic young scientist Henry Jekyll struggles to unlock the secrets of the soul. Testing chemicals in his lab, he drinks a mixture he hopes will isolate - and eliminate - human evil. Instead it unleashes the dark forces within him, transforming him into the hideous and murderous Mr. Hyde.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde dramatically brings to life a science-fiction case study of the nature of good and evil and the duality that can exist within one person. Resonant with psychological perception and ethical insight, the work has literary roots in Dostoevsky's "The Double" and Crime and Punishment. Today Stevenson's novella is recognized as an incisive study of Victorian morality and sexual repression, as well as a great thriller.
This collection also includes some of the author's grimmest short fiction: "Lodging for the Night," "The Suicide Club," "Thrawn Janet," "The Body Snatcher," and "Markheim."
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde dramatically brings to life a science-fiction case study of the nature of good and evil and the duality that can exist within one person. Resonant with psychological perception and ethical insight, the work has literary roots in Dostoevsky's "The Double" and Crime and Punishment. Today Stevenson's novella is recognized as an incisive study of Victorian morality and sexual repression, as well as a great thriller.
This collection also includes some of the author's grimmest short fiction: "Lodging for the Night," "The Suicide Club," "Thrawn Janet," "The Body Snatcher," and "Markheim."
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
Physical description
269 p.; 6.75 inches
ISBN
1593080549 / 9781593080549
Similar in this library
Lexile
950L
User reviews
LibraryThing member 391
A quick and compelling read - I really enjoyed reading it, despite knowing most of the plot points through general knowledge anyway.
LibraryThing member AmyElizabeth
While not the best work of British literature I have read, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, was definitely entertaining. As is most literature of this time and nature, the novel is dually purposed: that of a haunting story, and that of an intellectual dive
The story is told by Mr. Utterson, a reputable lawyer and friend of Dr. Henry Jekyll. While on a customary walk with an old friend, Mr. Utterson hears the story of a villainous, evil man, one Edward Hyde. Mr. Utterson is shocked and upset to hear that Mr. Hyde not only has a key to Dr. Jekyll's quarters, but that he has recently been named the sole heir to that same friend through his will.
Due to a feeling of loyalty, Mr. Utterson sets to understanding the relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and warning Dr. Jekyll of his uncertainty of the offensive man and his fear for his friend's safety and reputation. Along the way we are given the account of another friend of both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson, one Dr. Lanyon, and then finally the confession of Dr. Jekyll himself. The narrative flows smoothly and it's not hard to follow who is speaking, since the chapters are adequately labeled.
I'm sure just about everyone knows the story, so it won't be a spoiler to say that Dr. Jekyll is, in fact, Mr. Hyde. But the book is worth a read for several reasons. One, it's easy-to-read British literature, and that doesn't come along too often, I've found. It's also a quick read (I don't know the specific number of pages, but it's definitely a novella (less than 100 pages) rather than a novel. And three, Stevenson seamlessly integrated a horror story (at least by 19th century standards) and a true look at humanity's sense of good vs. evil without sounding preachy or boring. His story took the itangible concept (that of man being both good and evil, internally speaking) and showed us what that could look like if that same concept was made physically visible. There are marked physical differences between Jekyll and Hyde, and that's no coincidence. Evil incarnate is much different looking from the average Joe, but that's because the average Joe is both good and evil. I was fascinated by the delicate (and sometimes not so delicate) changes Stevenson made to the character in order to emphasize the differences but, as the story progresses and you see just how far Dr. Jekyll falls, it's intriguing to note just how alike and close the characters become.
I won't give away any details because I think this is a book worth reading, but it just wasn't one of my favorites (probably because I'm not the biggest fan of scary stories). And because of that bias, I give it 3.5 out of 5. Note that this is the first time I've used a half star - this is because when I initially finished the book I gave it a 3, but now that I've had some time to digest and appreciate what Stevenson was trying to say, I want to give it a 4. So we'll settle with 3.5 and call it a day. Maybe I just have a soft spot for British literature (who would believe it, after 4 semesters' worth of reading the stuff?).
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into the duality of man.The story is told by Mr. Utterson, a reputable lawyer and friend of Dr. Henry Jekyll. While on a customary walk with an old friend, Mr. Utterson hears the story of a villainous, evil man, one Edward Hyde. Mr. Utterson is shocked and upset to hear that Mr. Hyde not only has a key to Dr. Jekyll's quarters, but that he has recently been named the sole heir to that same friend through his will.
Due to a feeling of loyalty, Mr. Utterson sets to understanding the relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and warning Dr. Jekyll of his uncertainty of the offensive man and his fear for his friend's safety and reputation. Along the way we are given the account of another friend of both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Utterson, one Dr. Lanyon, and then finally the confession of Dr. Jekyll himself. The narrative flows smoothly and it's not hard to follow who is speaking, since the chapters are adequately labeled.
I'm sure just about everyone knows the story, so it won't be a spoiler to say that Dr. Jekyll is, in fact, Mr. Hyde. But the book is worth a read for several reasons. One, it's easy-to-read British literature, and that doesn't come along too often, I've found. It's also a quick read (I don't know the specific number of pages, but it's definitely a novella (less than 100 pages) rather than a novel. And three, Stevenson seamlessly integrated a horror story (at least by 19th century standards) and a true look at humanity's sense of good vs. evil without sounding preachy or boring. His story took the itangible concept (that of man being both good and evil, internally speaking) and showed us what that could look like if that same concept was made physically visible. There are marked physical differences between Jekyll and Hyde, and that's no coincidence. Evil incarnate is much different looking from the average Joe, but that's because the average Joe is both good and evil. I was fascinated by the delicate (and sometimes not so delicate) changes Stevenson made to the character in order to emphasize the differences but, as the story progresses and you see just how far Dr. Jekyll falls, it's intriguing to note just how alike and close the characters become.
I won't give away any details because I think this is a book worth reading, but it just wasn't one of my favorites (probably because I'm not the biggest fan of scary stories). And because of that bias, I give it 3.5 out of 5. Note that this is the first time I've used a half star - this is because when I initially finished the book I gave it a 3, but now that I've had some time to digest and appreciate what Stevenson was trying to say, I want to give it a 4. So we'll settle with 3.5 and call it a day. Maybe I just have a soft spot for British literature (who would believe it, after 4 semesters' worth of reading the stuff?).
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LibraryThing member jreinheimer
A scientist takes a potion which allows him to become someone else. The person he becomes starts killing people and being evil. Dr. Jekyll starts being unable to control his alter ego. This book is a classic horror story. Students could see if the book is still scary in modern times. Also, students
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can look at the subtext to see what scared people in the time period the book was written. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mromano
Another of the 501 must reads. I enjoyed the novel, read in one sitting. The novel hints, but rarely tells, of the atrocities committed by the alter ego. For me, the most interesting part were the steps taken by Dr. Jekyll in trying to restore his good nature and thus repress the evil Hyde,who
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begins to appear spontaneously without the necessity of medication. Show Less
LibraryThing member kalyka
Nineteenth century literature is filled with doppelganger stories, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde being the most famous of them. It explores the duality of human nature, good and evil, and the conflict within. The theme of split personality is also explored, although this story takes it to a literal sense
The novella revolves around a lawyer who investigates a series of strange events surrounding the repulsive Mr. Edward Hyde, who has mysteriously "befriended" Dr. Jekyll. The most notable of these events is the murder of a high-placed London politician.
Although the story is considered by many a classic, I frankly did not enjoy reading it. Everything just happens so fast, there's absolutely no suspense at all! Things fall into place much too quickly, there's no room for guesswork. It's all too obvious from the very beginning who committed the crimes described in the novella. It's supposed to be a mystery story, let there be place for mystery!
I find that while it would be 'normal' to feel guilt and remorse after conducting such experiments as trying to split your person in two, Dr. Jekyll comes off as stupid, whiny, and selfish. He explains why he conducted such experiments on himself and how Mr. Hyde came more and more often to the forefront, and how he feels he's losing his mind, but did he not think of the consequences of his actions? Did he not think that while being Mr. Hyde, he could potentially cause great suffering? He became so obsessed by his little experiment that he lost the big picture; man is a duality by nature.
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and splits a person in two.The novella revolves around a lawyer who investigates a series of strange events surrounding the repulsive Mr. Edward Hyde, who has mysteriously "befriended" Dr. Jekyll. The most notable of these events is the murder of a high-placed London politician.
Although the story is considered by many a classic, I frankly did not enjoy reading it. Everything just happens so fast, there's absolutely no suspense at all! Things fall into place much too quickly, there's no room for guesswork. It's all too obvious from the very beginning who committed the crimes described in the novella. It's supposed to be a mystery story, let there be place for mystery!
I find that while it would be 'normal' to feel guilt and remorse after conducting such experiments as trying to split your person in two, Dr. Jekyll comes off as stupid, whiny, and selfish. He explains why he conducted such experiments on himself and how Mr. Hyde came more and more often to the forefront, and how he feels he's losing his mind, but did he not think of the consequences of his actions? Did he not think that while being Mr. Hyde, he could potentially cause great suffering? He became so obsessed by his little experiment that he lost the big picture; man is a duality by nature.
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LibraryThing member jcmontgomery
A great book to read for Halloween. At it's core, a struggle between good and evil becomes personified. At novella length, it doesn't take much of a commitment to read this horrifying tale of an experiment gone wrong.
LibraryThing member bell7
In the title story, Mr. Utterson, a lawyer, is walking with his cousin when he hears a strange tale of a Mr. Hyde, who apparently has no conscience. Since he knows from his legal work that a respected man, Dr. Henry Jekyll, has written a strange clause into his will leaving all his property to this
The other short stories did not resonate with me as much, but they are still worth a read for anyone interested in Victorian Gothic and horror stories. Stevenson can definitely create a mood, and he writes some very unsettling stories.
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strange and unlikable man, Utterson determines to get to the bottom of what influence Mr. Hyde has over his friend. This story has become so much a part of our psyche that it's hard to approach it without already knowing the ending. I think I would've liked it even better if I could have somehow escaped spoilers, yet the ending lines weren't any less poignant for all that. The "science" of it all would be complete balderdash today, yet the story still explores the nature of good and evil and the heart of man.The other short stories did not resonate with me as much, but they are still worth a read for anyone interested in Victorian Gothic and horror stories. Stevenson can definitely create a mood, and he writes some very unsettling stories.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
I think by now most people are familiar with the lead story in this collection, the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Knowing the general plot of the story without having read it before spoiled it a bit for me, I found it neither suspenseful nor that well written enough to make it interesting.
This
This
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is a collection of stories, notes and commentary. The table of contents says there are 6 stories, but here are really 8. Of the 8, I found the 3 that make up "The Suicide Club" the most interesting. All together the longest story in the book, it seemed to be better written and just flowed better, despite some occasional odd jumping around. Two of the others, "Thrawn Janet" and "Markheim", I really didn't enjoy much at all. Perhaps Stevenson should be better known for his YA/adventure fiction, rather than his horror/gothic fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
These stories are classics. Mr Stevenson lived in a time when industrialization was just getting started - old world crafts were switching over to big machines, able to churn out more items in considerably less time. Its also the time of scientific curiosity. Scientists studied everything - with
A number of stories sit on gothic horror- for example Markheim, and Thrawn Janet, even The Body-Snatchers play into this. These stories play on the fears of the time, robbery, science gone wrong/against God, even body snatching. And with any good story, the backdrop of these stories are just as important as what is happening.
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the hope of finding out what makes humans tick. With Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a scientist has discovered how to switch off human conscience, giving in to the base emotion of lust, and immediate gratification.A number of stories sit on gothic horror- for example Markheim, and Thrawn Janet, even The Body-Snatchers play into this. These stories play on the fears of the time, robbery, science gone wrong/against God, even body snatching. And with any good story, the backdrop of these stories are just as important as what is happening.
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LibraryThing member connorshirs
Would have been such a good read if it wasn't so iconic. The entire plot resolves in discovering Dr. Jekyll is actually his mysterious friend, Mr. Hyde; who knew?
Stevenson and his idea of morality is intriguing to me though.
Stevenson and his idea of morality is intriguing to me though.
LibraryThing member tanyaferrell
This story got better and better as it continued. Stevenson is straight forward, maybe a little too tell-y vs. show-y, but the content is so good. If you've ever struggled with your vices, then this is the book. It contains so much good food for thought. My first real exposure to this story was
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actually the BBC miniseries Jekyll where the writers more explicitly made Hyde a manifestation of love, which was a lot of fun to think about as I read this novella as well. This honestly just feels like one of those foundational stories that I can enjoy in any iteration. It speaks to me in a big way. Show Less
LibraryThing member Griffin_Reads
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories was decent, but nothing that will stand out to me in the long run. Each of the stories generally follows a man/group of men while various murders are taking place, and observes the ethics behind some of their actions and how society at
That being said, each of the stories captured (or didn't capture) my attention for different reasons. Sometimes it was the gothic vibes to the story, sometimes it was the actions of the characters, sometimes it was the way the characters spoke to others. But, there was no one story that stood out.
Ultimately, I'm glad I read it, but overall just an okay book in my opinion.
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the time treated death.That being said, each of the stories captured (or didn't capture) my attention for different reasons. Sometimes it was the gothic vibes to the story, sometimes it was the actions of the characters, sometimes it was the way the characters spoke to others. But, there was no one story that stood out.
Ultimately, I'm glad I read it, but overall just an okay book in my opinion.
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Call number
FIC A3 Ste