The Man Who Was Jekyll and Hyde: The Lives and Crimes of Deacon Brodie

by Rick Wilson

He was a respected cabinetmaker and councillor by day – but Deacon William Brodie changed into a sinister, thieving monster when darkness fell on the old city of Edinburgh. Cleverly employing his respectable reputation to access the richest members of society before stealing from them as a masked burglar, he used the resulting illicit money to fund yet another life – with five children and two mistresses. But Brodie – whose chilling story inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to create the classic tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde about a century later – came fatally unstuck when an accomplice informed on him. Then neither his ill-gotten gains nor his plans to cheat the hangman could save him. Rick Wilson traces the increasingly desperate double life of Brodie, from his first taste of crime through to his public disgrace and execution … hanging on the very gallows he allegedly conceived himself.

Genres: Biography

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2015

Reviews

[Emma Robertson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dnf'd this book as it was as dry as a bowl of granola without milk.

The author clearly prefers the link to Robert Louis Stevensons Jeckyll and Hyde to the originatin character itself and Deacon Brodie is portrayed as something far more than the tenuous link to RLS not for me.

[Stoic_quin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay but not a lot of substance to it.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish this, as I could not get past chapter 2. I am interested in learning about this guy, but this book is entirely too much speculation and description and too little actual story.

[Serena Locritani · Rating 2 out of 5]

The deacon brodie story was very interesting, was for sure a character important in the history of Edinburgh, that much that years after Stevenson used his story for his theatre play and after for the famous " Dr jekyll and Mr Hyde". The part with letters and comments from people at the time was more confusing and repetitive. But a good read for get more informations regarding this intriguing story.

[J Killswitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tricky for me personally to stay interested, perfect for any historian!

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but interesting read into the life of Deacon Brodie and the connection with the infamous story Jekyll and Hyde.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come