The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

by C. Kingsley Williams (Adapter), Robert Louis Stevenson

Penguin Longman Reader Level 5
Classic / British English Dr Jekyll is a London doctor who is liked and respected for his work. Mr Hyde is an evil man, completely unknown in London society. There is a murder and Hyde seems to be responsible. So why does the good doctor give Mr Hyde the key to his house and decide to leave everything to Mr Hyde in his will?

Genres: Classics

78 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sofía Ccoata · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good

[Cuong Khong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps this is the most classic story about the confrontation between good and evil, and the recognition of the inner struggle each man faces in his life. The idea of ​​this sensational short story came from Stevenson's dream, in which he woke up in a blind rage and immediately began to write the story.

[Valdemar Gomes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The descriptions are nice but go on too far, making me want to read hastily, so to finish the story. Specially in the last pages in which the narrative ends 20 pages before the character stops yapping.
If the story means to propagate the ideal of a dual human nature and the dangers of succumbing to evil, it's dumb and wrong. If not, nice fiction mate!

[Amanda Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Much shorter than I ever knew. I thought it was intriguing to see into Jekyll's mind at the end. Though I am a little upset it seems that his name was chosen purely to be able to make a "Mr. Seek" pun.

[Marbeth Skwarczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent study of the dual nature of man and what happens when evil takes over.

I read this with my 11-12th British Literature class and they loved the story.

[Butterfly2507 · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 7 pages in. Just not my thing.

[Bubulka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This man loves yapping

[Marika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this in decades and had forgotten how short it is. It's easy to lose the specifics of the book with so many movies overwriting the story.

The majority of the book is written in 3rd person by the friend (and lawyer) of Dr. Jeckyll. Something I didn't remember was how much care his friends and even the staff within his home, took to preserve Dr. Jeckyll's reputation in the backdrop of Victorian England. Even how willing his friend was to overlook unpleasantness as a normal course of behavior.

""I incline to Cain's heresy," he used to say quaintly, "I let my brother go to the devil in his own way."

[ . . .]

""No sir: I had a delicacy," was the reply, "I feel very strongly about putting questions; it partakes too much of the style of the day of judgment. You start a question, and it's like starting a stone. You sit quietly on the top of a hill; and away the stone goes, starting others; and presently some bland old bird (the last you would have thought of) is knocked on the head in his own back-garden and the family have to change their name, No, sir, I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask.""



It is at the last of the book that readers are shown the letters of confession from Dr. Jeckyll himself, detailing his quest for understanding the duality of man and his decline into his abhorrent side.

"If each, I told myself, could but be housed in separate identities, life would be relieved of all that was unbearable; the unjust delivered from the aspirations might hos his way, and remorse of his more upright twin; and the just could walk steadfastly and securely on his upward path, doing the good things in which he found his pleasure, and no longer exposed to disgrace and penitence by the hands of this is extraneous evil."

[ . . .]

"Men have before hired bravos to transact their crimes, while their own person and reputation sat under shelter. I was the first that ever did so for his pleasures. I was the first that could thus plod in the public eye with a load of genial respectability, and in a moment, like a schoolboy, strip off these lendings and spring headlong in the sea of liberty. But for me, in my impenetrable mantle, the safety was complete."

I had also forgotten that it wasn't just out of fear for his own safety that Hyde allowed Jeckyll to take control again, even when Hyde was able to assert himself into existence. Hyde was distressed at being disliked, at being unable to enjoy the belonging that came with being the acceptable Dr. Jeckyll.

There is so much to this very short book, and while much is portrayed of Hyde's crimes in the movies - the story of Hyde and Jeckyll negotiating as separate, but dependent, beings in Victorian England is what interested me most.

[My Little Forest · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd say it's a typical story. A man/woman who is two completely different people. However, its narration it's good, I mean, its story itself it's "nothing" really, personally. But how it's written and the way its story happens.. it's a little creative.
If I had never read anything similar as this story, maybe I'd loved it so much.. But I had, so.. it's not a "surprise" for me. Besides, I prefer those stories where you don't nor can imagine what's really going to happen 'til it happens. And this is not one of those stories you don't know what's gonna happen 'til then.. So, that's why I'd rate it as "it was ok".
I also think it also depends on your mood... When I read this book, I was a bit tired. I'm not saying it's a bad book or a "too simple" book.. I'm saying it's a good book but only it has some things I already knew those things would happen so..

If you're going to read it.. DO IT! :) And comment your opinion here, so everybody can read and complete "their puzzles" of the ideas they had built.. before, during and after the book.

KEEP LOVING READING.

[Earl Grey Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the books that one of the groups in my reading class picked for their extensive reading project. I read it to make sure that I am up to speed when they have their group discussions about what they have read so far.

The book is still written is the Victorian English style that I've seen in other full length books from that era, though it is a bit watered down. I think it might be a bit of challenge for them since some of the slightly archaic forms of British English are used in this book. I haven't read the real book, but I feel that I have a better grasp on the famous tale.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, easy to read in one sitting. If you don't mind old books and the old way to writing, which can be a bit odd and a bit dry in places, this is an enjoyable classic and a must-read to fully appreciate every remake of it since.

[Zayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book, not very long, and yet very satisfying in the end. You'll like this a lot more if you're like me and didn't like the movie. full five star.

[Eli Funes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buen reader. No me acordaba casi nada de la historia. Buen clásico.

[mica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read along with Phoebe Reads a Mystery, for the first time. Thought it was short and well-paced, but didn't particularly love it.

[Kerrie Horsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!