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Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde [and The Bottle Imp]
The Penguin English Library Edition of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson'All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and and Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil'Published as a 'shilling shocker', Robert Louis Stevenson's dark psychological fantasy gave birth to the idea of the split personality. The story of respectable Dr Jekyll's strange association with 'damnable young man' Edward Hyde; the hunt through fog-bound London for a killer; and the final revelation of Hyde's true identity is a chilling exploration of humanity's basest capacity for evil.This edition also includes Stevenson's chilling story 'The Bottle Imp'.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2012
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About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson
6,781 books6,935 followersRobert 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
October 23, 2018
Yay! I finally read about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 😊 I've been wanting to read this since I was a freshman in high school
October 16, 2019
I generally do not like 19th century novels because I find them extremely wordy. But this was concise, the characters and plot well developed in a short space. It remains a classic, not simply because the writing is strong, but because the anthropology presented continues to make the reader grapple with fundamental questions.
January 26, 2020
Querem ler um livro sobre um tema da psicologia, sem darem por isso porque a história é magistral e contada de uma forma que faz querer ler mais e mais? Leiam este livro, é simplesmente magnífico!
May 27, 2020
לא סתם הספר הזה הפך לקלסיקה ויחד עם הנובלה המיסטית ״השד בבקבוק״ היה תענוג לקרוא סופר בן המאה ה19 כל כך מקורי ויצירתי.
October 13, 2016
Oh, that was quick.. I actually read it cover to cover since it was so exiting - in a strange way, might I add. Although you knew all along that Dr Jekyll also is Mr Hyde, you nevertheless almost doubted it at times! That's how well written it is. I especially enjoyed the fact that it consisted of two parts; one from the lawyer and friend of Dr Jekyll, Mr Utterson, who sees the mystery from an outside perspective (it almost plays out as an episode of a modern crime serie). After the mystery is solved however, you get to experience it again from Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde's point of view and get a glimpse of how he is torn between his two personalities. Intriguing!
This edition also came with the story "The Bottle Imp" in addition to "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde". This short story was like a twisted version of the plot of Aladdin and his lamp and The Picture of Dorian Grey: there was a bottle (lamp, whatever) but you had to pledge your soul to the devil in order to gain it and all its wish granting.
I must say that I preferred the first story in the book, but I was not bored at all reading the latter.
All in all, it was not a "good night spoiled" reading this Classic!
This edition also came with the story "The Bottle Imp" in addition to "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde". This short story was like a twisted version of the plot of Aladdin and his lamp and The Picture of Dorian Grey: there was a bottle (lamp, whatever) but you had to pledge your soul to the devil in order to gain it and all its wish granting.
I must say that I preferred the first story in the book, but I was not bored at all reading the latter.
All in all, it was not a "good night spoiled" reading this Classic!
April 18, 2022
C’est le premier roman que je lisais, ça fait des années !
Je sais pas vraiment pourquoi mais à chaque fois je rencontre ce titre un sourire m’illumine 💓
Des beaux souvenirs me reviennent à la tête et ça restera l'un des meilleurs romans que j'ai jamais lu !
Une histoire extraordinaire qui était gravé sa place à la littérature à travers le monde, et devenue le symbole de bien et de mal , et de la transformation surhumaine , quand les mains des êtres humains décident de créé un être qu'on ne peut plus le décrire comme un humain
Trop de nostalgie et de souvenirs associés ❤️
Je sais pas vraiment pourquoi mais à chaque fois je rencontre ce titre un sourire m’illumine 💓
Des beaux souvenirs me reviennent à la tête et ça restera l'un des meilleurs romans que j'ai jamais lu !
Une histoire extraordinaire qui était gravé sa place à la littérature à travers le monde, et devenue le symbole de bien et de mal , et de la transformation surhumaine , quand les mains des êtres humains décident de créé un être qu'on ne peut plus le décrire comme un humain
Trop de nostalgie et de souvenirs associés ❤️
October 6, 2025
4.5 ⭐
What an interesting story, written beautifully, and with a cold and dreary atmosphere that comes alive on the page.
What an interesting story, written beautifully, and with a cold and dreary atmosphere that comes alive on the page.
April 10, 2024
it's so sad that I read this in my own time. would not recommend
December 28, 2023
This had some very Lovecraftian characteristics that I like when reading Lovecraft but found kinda mehh in this book. I had no idea what to expect, but I surely was not some lawyers talking about Hyde colliding with a little girl and not helping her get up afterwards. Okay, he committed some murders later in the story but it still felt like that was the worst thing he did if you look at the reactions of the people in this book. I was expecting a bit more straightforward approach, not this where first there were many people that had thoughts about how disgustful (loving that word) mr Hyde was and then flashbackish letter where doctor Jekyll explained what had happened. Nothing happened in real time from the point of view of those characters. Nothing.
And I very much detested the pondering of the dark side of the man - like it was something exciting and inside every person. My dark side has no desire to randomly murder people, neither is she shorter and uglier than me. I much prefer when the darkness is portrayed as more beautiful than the reality.
All in all, this was just one self-righteous old man thrilled about his unique vision of manhood (the only woman presented fainted) and the more he got into the darkness, the more complex words he used to visualize nothingness. My edition had like seventy pages. The last twenty where Jekyll explained what he had done could have been shortened to "I am a civilized man who has a curious calling to blind violence".
And I very much detested the pondering of the dark side of the man - like it was something exciting and inside every person. My dark side has no desire to randomly murder people, neither is she shorter and uglier than me. I much prefer when the darkness is portrayed as more beautiful than the reality.
All in all, this was just one self-righteous old man thrilled about his unique vision of manhood (the only woman presented fainted) and the more he got into the darkness, the more complex words he used to visualize nothingness. My edition had like seventy pages. The last twenty where Jekyll explained what he had done could have been shortened to "I am a civilized man who has a curious calling to blind violence".
November 21, 2019
I loved the descriptive language that the author used. It really made this story eerie and disquieting. There’s some interesting things to notice about he describes Hyde. I thought the last chapter was a bit slower than the rest of the book, but I still enjoyed it.
July 24, 2023
As boring as I remember it being from high school.
January 8, 2020
Empezare por que estoy sorprendida por el hecho de que hasta que leí este libro me di cuenta que se trata del mismo autor de otro libro que se llama La Isla del Tesoro, que no e leído y no se si lo haga, pero no tenia ni idea, por que yo llego a este libro por que siempre veía lo de la doble personalidad, ya sea en las caricaturas o alguna parodia y quería saber que onda y sorpresa que me lleve por que como siempre digo y es algo que me gusta de los clásicos, no siempre las cosas son las que se cuentan y terminan siendo otras cuando lees el libro.
Esta es la historia de un Dr que vive en Londres y que se apellida Jekyll que un día descubre una poción que puede cambiar de personalidad a una persona, ya sea de manera física como en el carácter, pero un día hay un asesinato de una persona en un lugar muy famoso de Londres y un amigo del Dr Jekyll se va a poner a investigar quien fue el asesino por que se da cuenta que es una persona muy cercana al Dr.
Es un libro que toca mucho el tema del cambio de personalidad, no múltiple por que no son muchos los cambios solo uno, pero para la época y las circunstancias resulta muy novedoso, a parte del giro que nos da la novela, la verdad nunca me lo esperaba, solo diré que cuando se den cuenta bien de quien es Hyde quedaran tan impresionados como yo, es que en verdad nunca lo vi venir.
Un libro de misterio, yo siempre pensé que era de terror, pero es de ese misterio que me gusta por que es andar investigando quien es esta persona que cometió este asesinato y por que es muy cercana a Dr. Jekyll y también toca descubrir ¿Quien es Hyde?, ¿Sera Hyde la misma persona que cometió el asesinato?¿ Por que Dr Jekyll defiende mucho a Hyde? entre muchas otras preguntas.
Un libro que a pesar de que es cortito no van a poder dejar de leer, es que si te da intriga el responder todas esas preguntas y cuando descubres el misterio es una explosión que no te puedes imaginar.
Es que siempre quise saber que onda con lo de la poción que hace el Dr Jekyll y le da a alguien a que se la tome y resulta que se transforma en un ser horrible que tiene sed de venganza, siempre me dio curiosidad saber todo eso, pero nunca me decidía a leer el libro, pero lo vi en storytel y no dude en escucharlo y grata sorpresa que me lleve por que esta hecho por la compañía FonoLibro y sus audiolibros son maravillosos, con sonidos, música, ambientación y actores que con su voz dan vida a cada uno de los personajes sin duda toda una experiencia.
Ya sea en audiolibro o con el libro en físico no se pierdan esta historia que estoy segura que los va a sorprender tanto o más que a mi por que se que vale mucho la pena leerla.
Entrada completa en: http://calderoliterario7.blogspot.mx
Esta es la historia de un Dr que vive en Londres y que se apellida Jekyll que un día descubre una poción que puede cambiar de personalidad a una persona, ya sea de manera física como en el carácter, pero un día hay un asesinato de una persona en un lugar muy famoso de Londres y un amigo del Dr Jekyll se va a poner a investigar quien fue el asesino por que se da cuenta que es una persona muy cercana al Dr.
Es un libro que toca mucho el tema del cambio de personalidad, no múltiple por que no son muchos los cambios solo uno, pero para la época y las circunstancias resulta muy novedoso, a parte del giro que nos da la novela, la verdad nunca me lo esperaba, solo diré que cuando se den cuenta bien de quien es Hyde quedaran tan impresionados como yo, es que en verdad nunca lo vi venir.
Un libro de misterio, yo siempre pensé que era de terror, pero es de ese misterio que me gusta por que es andar investigando quien es esta persona que cometió este asesinato y por que es muy cercana a Dr. Jekyll y también toca descubrir ¿Quien es Hyde?, ¿Sera Hyde la misma persona que cometió el asesinato?¿ Por que Dr Jekyll defiende mucho a Hyde? entre muchas otras preguntas.
Un libro que a pesar de que es cortito no van a poder dejar de leer, es que si te da intriga el responder todas esas preguntas y cuando descubres el misterio es una explosión que no te puedes imaginar.
Es que siempre quise saber que onda con lo de la poción que hace el Dr Jekyll y le da a alguien a que se la tome y resulta que se transforma en un ser horrible que tiene sed de venganza, siempre me dio curiosidad saber todo eso, pero nunca me decidía a leer el libro, pero lo vi en storytel y no dude en escucharlo y grata sorpresa que me lleve por que esta hecho por la compañía FonoLibro y sus audiolibros son maravillosos, con sonidos, música, ambientación y actores que con su voz dan vida a cada uno de los personajes sin duda toda una experiencia.
Ya sea en audiolibro o con el libro en físico no se pierdan esta historia que estoy segura que los va a sorprender tanto o más que a mi por que se que vale mucho la pena leerla.
Entrada completa en: http://calderoliterario7.blogspot.mx
March 23, 2020
First read this ages ago (I think during a summer/winter vacation in either college or high school?).
It's such an oddly structured book! Ok, it's not that odd, but it goes against your expectations, if you go in there thinking that Dr. Jekyll is going to be the main narrator. This is basically a mystery/detective story; you don't hear Dr. Jekyll explain things in his own voice until the final chapter.
And boy oh boy is that final chapter a doozy. It's extremely allegorical; you end up underlining nearly every single sentence. The Jekyll/Hyde divide can be interpreted in so many different ways: a metaphor for addiction, an exploration of the Jungian "shadow" archetype and other Jungian ideas (how we are always presenting a "mask" or persona to the rest of society), Freudian theory about civilization and repression, Shakespearean themes re: how Jekyll's tragic downfall comes about because of his ambition and vanity, etc. (It's interesting to think about a lot of people think the "Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde" divide is about "good vs evil," but the book makes very clear that Dr. Jekyll already had debased qualities that he was repressing, and which the Hyde persona allowed him to fully embody).
Anyway, there's a reason why this book has entered the realm of myth—it taps into something really powerful and elemental. (It's also a bit Jungian how Stevenson says he came up with the story after a dream!).
It's v. interesting and Victorian how the book never specifies what were all the evil, debased activities that tempted Dr. Jekyll, and which he fully indulged in as Hyde. I was dying to know!! Drinking lean and trying to organize threesomes with underage girls in the club...? The fact that the book doesn't go there allows you to invent some real perverted things in your imagination. You just know that Edward Hyde was reppin' for that low life....
It's such an oddly structured book! Ok, it's not that odd, but it goes against your expectations, if you go in there thinking that Dr. Jekyll is going to be the main narrator. This is basically a mystery/detective story; you don't hear Dr. Jekyll explain things in his own voice until the final chapter.
And boy oh boy is that final chapter a doozy. It's extremely allegorical; you end up underlining nearly every single sentence. The Jekyll/Hyde divide can be interpreted in so many different ways: a metaphor for addiction, an exploration of the Jungian "shadow" archetype and other Jungian ideas (how we are always presenting a "mask" or persona to the rest of society), Freudian theory about civilization and repression, Shakespearean themes re: how Jekyll's tragic downfall comes about because of his ambition and vanity, etc. (It's interesting to think about a lot of people think the "Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde" divide is about "good vs evil," but the book makes very clear that Dr. Jekyll already had debased qualities that he was repressing, and which the Hyde persona allowed him to fully embody).
Anyway, there's a reason why this book has entered the realm of myth—it taps into something really powerful and elemental. (It's also a bit Jungian how Stevenson says he came up with the story after a dream!).
It's v. interesting and Victorian how the book never specifies what were all the evil, debased activities that tempted Dr. Jekyll, and which he fully indulged in as Hyde. I was dying to know!! Drinking lean and trying to organize threesomes with underage girls in the club...? The fact that the book doesn't go there allows you to invent some real perverted things in your imagination. You just know that Edward Hyde was reppin' for that low life....
March 4, 2020
La primera (y única) vez que leí Dr. Jekyll y Mr. Hyde fue hace mucho tiempo y en su momento me pareció un buen libro (no excelente pero bueno), opuesto a lo que sucedió en esa ocasión, esta vez me pareció malo, no disfruté la lectura y solo pensaba en terminarlo y nada más.
El libro presenta a dos personas protagónicos: Henry Jekyll y Edward Hyde, el primero un doctor reconocido en su área y el segundo un hombre que salió de la nada ni nadie conoce pero tiene una conexión con el Dr. Jekyll y el misterio es porque este tal Hyde es de repente quien figura en el testamento de Henry Jekyll para recibir todo en caso de la desaparición del doctor.
Dicho así parece interesante la trama y puede que lo sea pero tal vez como ya había leído el libro no fue nada nuevo para mí.
A pesar de lo lento que se me hizo leer este libro lo pude terminar pero no es el primer libro de Robert Louis Stevenson que me cuesta leer (La isla del tesoro aburrido a no más poder).
Puntaje 2⭐.
El libro presenta a dos personas protagónicos: Henry Jekyll y Edward Hyde, el primero un doctor reconocido en su área y el segundo un hombre que salió de la nada ni nadie conoce pero tiene una conexión con el Dr. Jekyll y el misterio es porque este tal Hyde es de repente quien figura en el testamento de Henry Jekyll para recibir todo en caso de la desaparición del doctor.
Dicho así parece interesante la trama y puede que lo sea pero tal vez como ya había leído el libro no fue nada nuevo para mí.
A pesar de lo lento que se me hizo leer este libro lo pude terminar pero no es el primer libro de Robert Louis Stevenson que me cuesta leer (La isla del tesoro aburrido a no más poder).
Puntaje 2⭐.
December 23, 2019
The story is a classic and a good one at that. I remember reading the picture of dorian grey in my youth and I was very unconvinced back then. This might have had to do with my young age but nonetheless I did not enjoy it then. Now I am either old enough or Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was a fsr better book.
The story goes as often old stories go, with more broad descriptions of happenings and actions than more recent books. This takes a certain state of mind to read but when in that state, reading is a pleasure. One of the best things about the book are the converstations between the characters that are written in proper oldtime goodsir etiquette. Yes, I rather quite enjoy sounding like a true gentleman.
The story goes as often old stories go, with more broad descriptions of happenings and actions than more recent books. This takes a certain state of mind to read but when in that state, reading is a pleasure. One of the best things about the book are the converstations between the characters that are written in proper oldtime goodsir etiquette. Yes, I rather quite enjoy sounding like a true gentleman.
September 1, 2019
"Evil besides (which I must still believe to be the lethal side of man) had left on that body an imprint of deformity and decay. 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."
"All things therefore seemed to point to this: that I was slowly losing hold of my original and better self, and becoming slowly incorporated with my second and worse."
"Will Hyde die upon the scaffold? or will he find the courage to release himself at the last moment? God knows; I am careless; this is my true hour of death, and what is to follow concerns another than myself."
"All things therefore seemed to point to this: that I was slowly losing hold of my original and better self, and becoming slowly incorporated with my second and worse."
"Will Hyde die upon the scaffold? or will he find the courage to release himself at the last moment? God knows; I am careless; this is my true hour of death, and what is to follow concerns another than myself."
June 25, 2023
okay so technically i didn’t finish the book cuz i didn’t read “the bottle imp”, but we all know that that doesn’t really count anyway.
i enjoyed the book! but i do think that i enjoyed it so much more because i wrote an essay on it, and had all the background info. ruth would hopefully be proud!
i enjoyed the book! but i do think that i enjoyed it so much more because i wrote an essay on it, and had all the background info. ruth would hopefully be proud!
February 21, 2018
Excellent story about good vs evil!
October 13, 2019
It was ok. Read it at the laundromat. I understand some show and book references now.
May 10, 2020
Delicious
January 8, 2022
I accidentally read a manifesto on sobriety during dry January (which I am not partaking in)
May 15, 2023
Come si fa a non amare un capolavoro simile. Stupendo.
December 28, 2023
I hate to be one of those people that always speaks good things about novels or classic books, cuz lets be honest, most people talking good things about em ought to be snobs, who haven’t read shit, but the last chapter of this book just kinda made me really sad, it speaks some really important things about oppression and repression, about what and how that can destroy a person, I really can’t stress enough how sad of a book this was, but worth the read. Just wish the English was a little bit easier to read sjjsjsjsjs
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2023
And with this I have officially finished reading the Trifecta of multiple-narrative-levels-nineteenth-century-gothic-fiction (along with Drac & Frank).
Moral of the story, Jekyll babe pls take your schizophrenia pills regularly and “Mr. Utterson the lawyer” please look into pursuing a career in the rap industry, lines like “If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek” go too hard not to be heard by multitudes.
Moral of the story, Jekyll babe pls take your schizophrenia pills regularly and “Mr. Utterson the lawyer” please look into pursuing a career in the rap industry, lines like “If he be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek” go too hard not to be heard by multitudes.
June 4, 2024
Cool i guess
December 21, 2024
Tror jag hade njutit mer av boken om jag inte visste om the plot-twist i för hand, samt så var texten lite för svår för mig att förstå i vissa fall.
October 20, 2024
I'm a bit mad at myself that I have not read this before. It was deeply impactful and made me react in many ways.
Many of us probably knew the gist of the classic before; but truly reading about the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was another experience. I was not anticipating the sheer grip this story had on me.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 5 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀? ⭐
It took me a while to get into this one but it was more than worth it. I marked many deep paragraphs that made me think and reflect my own thoughts and life. As this was not a long story I would definitely recommend you to give it a try.
Many of us probably knew the gist of the classic before; but truly reading about the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was another experience. I was not anticipating the sheer grip this story had on me.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 5 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀? ⭐
It took me a while to get into this one but it was more than worth it. I marked many deep paragraphs that made me think and reflect my own thoughts and life. As this was not a long story I would definitely recommend you to give it a try.
February 22, 2024
“If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also."
April 25, 2021
A classic I’ve always wanted to get to, I was not disappointed by this thoroughly entertaining and surprisingly concise read - I finished it in a day, great for my year’s book target.
Penned with the intention to “shock” its late 19th century readership, to me as a modern reader it comes across pleasantly charming - politely restrained in its darker chapters, though in a more critical light possibly a touch effete. The reader is largely left to imagine the “undignified” and “monstrous” pleasures in which Hyde indulges, barring two acts of violence which introduce and develop the character through their being witnessed and recounted to the protagonist, Mr Utterson. There is of course much “gasping” and “recoiling in horror” and crying of “calm yourself good sir” etc, plus a complete absence of female characters beyond a swooning witness to a violent crime and a momentary sobbing maid who is brusquely shushed, but we must take these as a sign of the time of writing.
But all of these things taken together, alongside the increasing derangement and seclusion of Jekyll (the man neglected to take guests for tea for weeks - the horror!), and the growing crescendo of suspense from one chapter to the next imparted by Utterson’s dogged pursuit of answers to mysterious events, the connections (though the modern reader knows them) always just out of reach, create a genuinely thrilling story.
Penned with the intention to “shock” its late 19th century readership, to me as a modern reader it comes across pleasantly charming - politely restrained in its darker chapters, though in a more critical light possibly a touch effete. The reader is largely left to imagine the “undignified” and “monstrous” pleasures in which Hyde indulges, barring two acts of violence which introduce and develop the character through their being witnessed and recounted to the protagonist, Mr Utterson. There is of course much “gasping” and “recoiling in horror” and crying of “calm yourself good sir” etc, plus a complete absence of female characters beyond a swooning witness to a violent crime and a momentary sobbing maid who is brusquely shushed, but we must take these as a sign of the time of writing.
But all of these things taken together, alongside the increasing derangement and seclusion of Jekyll (the man neglected to take guests for tea for weeks - the horror!), and the growing crescendo of suspense from one chapter to the next imparted by Utterson’s dogged pursuit of answers to mysterious events, the connections (though the modern reader knows them) always just out of reach, create a genuinely thrilling story.
May 14, 2021
I listened to this mostly because I had enjoyed Richard Armitage's narration of David Copperfield so much (excellent here, too), but I was soon drawn into this story for it's own sake. I knew the twist, of course (I didn't crawl out from under a rock yesterday), but the way that Stevenson unveiled the mystery and horror was wonderful. I also really enjoyed the exploration of the themes of duality and hypocrisy. After reading it's Wikipedia entry, apparently it was first published as a "penny dreadful". Not bad for a classic!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews