The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll 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.

The disturbing Mr. Hyde is making his repugnant presence known in late 19th Century London. But punishment for his vile acts are always parried by the good, and well-respected, Dr. Jekyll. Soon, the secret relationship between the two men will be revealed.

A classic that continues to be referenced today, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will forever be locked in literary history.

Genres: Classics

Audible Audio

Published July 19, 2024

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

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m amazed that I hadn’t read this until now. It’s fascinating! I understand there are some more modern versions, and I’d like to read one or two of those as well.

I’m very glad I finally got around to reading this!

[Rylan Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent read, but seemingly disjointed at times. It is a very quick read as well, coming in at around 120 pages. Pretty cut and dry, but has a decent plot and an interesting theme. 4 star plot but more like 3 star writing

[Grim Rainbow (Leslye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always found this story fascinating, especially after encountering so many retellings over the years. Reading the original The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson gave me a deeper appreciation for where those adaptations come from. It's interesting to see the changes made in modern versions - what they emphasize, what they leave out, and how they reinterpret the themes.

Overall, I enjoyed this exploration of the duality of human nature, the idea of man becoming monster, and the internal struggle between good and evil. While it’s not my favorite of the classic horror novels I've read, it’s still a compelling and worthwhile read. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in classic horror, especially if you're drawn to stories that blend psychological horror with mystery and subtle detective elements.

[Gabriela Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

“All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil.” 

WOW. I enjoyed this audiobook a lot more than expected. Everyone knows about “Jekyll and Hyde” character dynamics in books and movies now, but it was really amazing to step into the original. I loved that the beginning of the story felt like a police investigation, and it slowly transforms into this scientific, psychological horror battle within one person. I thought I knew the story, but finding out the “good” character is the one that unleashes the “evil” character and slowly loses control of both was shocking considering I always thought it was the inverse. It reiterates that you can’t know a person 100%. The constant struggle of being one man or the other really marked that descent into complete madness because the reality of it all was he was both. 

This is a very short audiobook and book. It’s very fitting right now AKA spooky season. I really enjoyed it. Consider giving it a read. 😎

[Melanie Bailiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I expected and at the same time was different from what I was thinking it would be. I’m sure that’s because over time pop culture has been more creative with the differences between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and gone more in depth with the characters. It reminded me a lot of Frankenstein in the way it was written. I also wasn’t expecting the narrator to be who it was, but it made the book feel like more of a mystery that way. It was an only 98 pages, so it was a short read, and perfect to read around Halloween.

Actual Rating: 7/10 or 4/5 stars

[Amanda S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but thoroughly enjoyable read, at least for myself. Dr. Jeckyll and Mr Hyde was one of the first books to explore the idea of the "inner shadow" of a person, especially in this sort of classic horror setting.

[Carl Sagstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent, one I’d heard of but knew absolutely nothing about it. I went in blind.
It was easy to read and not too long, with an engaging storyline.

[Megan Booth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was good things to think about in this one. Liked how it made me think deeper

[Brian Rector · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I've never read this. What the heck was on Jeckyll's devious mind that he needed a Hyde to execute? I need to queue up more Robert Louis Stevenson.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little dry/slow in the letter-excerpt sections, but fun nonetheless