The Strange Case of dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

by Robert Louis Stevenson

When the villainous Mr. Hyde embarks on a series of heinous crimes in London, he proves elusive to the authorities. What is more puzzling is the peculiar last will and testament drawn up by the mild mannered and amiable scientist, Dr. Jekyll, leaving everything he owns to the disreputable Mr. Hyde in the case of his own death or disappearance.

As Robert Louis Stevenson's tale unfolds from his masterly pen, the listener is drawn into the mystery and waits with bated breath for the denouement. Gripping!

Genres: Classics

Paperback

About the author

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of English literature. He was greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling and Vladimir Nabokov.

Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.

Reviews

[Readingtomycats · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite stories by this author.

[Ian Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I greatly loved the premise, the symbolism, and historical significance of the work, this was not the most enjoyable read. Nevertheless, it is still decent enough.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always struggle to rate and review classics that literally reinvented entire genres, and this one is no different. Still, I think this novella still holds up! It's solidly written with decent pacing and a good dose of intrigue. I also found it thought-provoking, prompting reflection on both human nature and whether one can truly know a person.

Bonus: Hearing this read by Ian Holm was a treat. He's fantastic and this is the first audiobook I've ever finished! ... That said, I still can't stop thinking about how, apparently, the pronunciation of "Jekyll" is "jee-kul." As in, "GEE whiz" and "CULL your enemies." It shook me to my very core.

[Richard Sharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

“And yet when I looked upon that ugly idol in the glass, I was conscious of no repugnance, rather of a leap of welcome. This, too, was myself.”

My only complaint of this book was I wish it were longer! The discourse of Dr Jekyll’s specific case of duality at the end was SO thought provoking! How unfortunate that he did not isolate his good from evil - he merely isolated his evil. Resulting in a fully evil self and that SAME self with restraints!

“If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also.”

[Reviews.with.Bianca · Rating 1 out of 5]

No matter how much I wanted to like this collection of short stories, I really couldn’t. They just dragged on and on!

It’s disappointing because the concepts are there but, I feel they haven’t truly been explored in enough depth. Maybe that’s the point??

Sadly, not for me and not something I’d recommend for others.