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Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Other Stories
How thin is the line between good and evil?
Dr Jekyll has been experimenting with his identity. He has developed a drug which separates the two sides of his nature and allows him occasionally to abandon himself to his most corrupt inclinations as the monstrous Mr Hyde. But gradually he begins to find that the journey back to goodness becomes more and more difficult, and the risk that Mr Hyde will break free entirely from Dr Jekyll's control puts all of London in grave peril.
Dr Jekyll has been experimenting with his identity. He has developed a drug which separates the two sides of his nature and allows him occasionally to abandon himself to his most corrupt inclinations as the monstrous Mr Hyde. But gradually he begins to find that the journey back to goodness becomes more and more difficult, and the risk that Mr Hyde will break free entirely from Dr Jekyll's control puts all of London in grave peril.
240 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2016
80 people are currently reading
967 people want to read
About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson
6,973 books7,016 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 119 reviews
July 13, 2023
Street after street, and all the folks asleep - street after street, all lighted up as if for a procession and all as empty as a church - till at last I got into that state of mind when a man listens and begins to long for the sight of a policeman.
This ancient incident is relayed to a lawyer, one Mr. Utterson, who is acquainted with the good Doctor Jekyll and several of his friends. In fact, he's had occasion to draw up Jekyll's Last Will and Testament and was somewhat disturbed by the direction that document took. A few well-placed inquiries draw more oddities to light and fretful nights ensue; filled with the possible need for immediate intervention.
Stevenson's classic, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is actually a short story. Written in 1886, it chilled its generation of readers much as Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense took our own era on its shocking cinematic ride. Both tales required ignorance of their final twists in order to produce the impact each revelation was crafted to provide - and it is because most of us know Stevenson's startling denouement that the novella suffers in modern critique. He didn't compose this frightful piece for those already aware of its conclusion, and that must be kept in mind.
The Everyman's Library edition leads with Jekyll and Hyde, followed by five additional shorts that share the theme of how a murderer reacts to the act of taking a life. It is unclear whether Stevenson had read Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment (published in installment twenty years before), though I suspect he had if only for the confidence to submit such dark fictional explorations to the public at large - novelists' reputations being what they then were. The collection is fair; the material a little melodramatic and, at times, overwritten. A good addition to a classical library, if not a necessary one.
This ancient incident is relayed to a lawyer, one Mr. Utterson, who is acquainted with the good Doctor Jekyll and several of his friends. In fact, he's had occasion to draw up Jekyll's Last Will and Testament and was somewhat disturbed by the direction that document took. A few well-placed inquiries draw more oddities to light and fretful nights ensue; filled with the possible need for immediate intervention.
Stevenson's classic, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is actually a short story. Written in 1886, it chilled its generation of readers much as Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense took our own era on its shocking cinematic ride. Both tales required ignorance of their final twists in order to produce the impact each revelation was crafted to provide - and it is because most of us know Stevenson's startling denouement that the novella suffers in modern critique. He didn't compose this frightful piece for those already aware of its conclusion, and that must be kept in mind.
The Everyman's Library edition leads with Jekyll and Hyde, followed by five additional shorts that share the theme of how a murderer reacts to the act of taking a life. It is unclear whether Stevenson had read Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment (published in installment twenty years before), though I suspect he had if only for the confidence to submit such dark fictional explorations to the public at large - novelists' reputations being what they then were. The collection is fair; the material a little melodramatic and, at times, overwritten. A good addition to a classical library, if not a necessary one.
December 27, 2025
Well, this is a classic work of literature, not to mention Gothic horror, and there are literally tens of thousands of reviews and comments already posted here, so it would be silly for me to try to add anything. My Magnum Easy-Eye paperback also includes Markheim, a Christmas-with-the-devil story, and an entertaining non-genre novelette, The Merry Men. This is one of those must-read classics that serves as a universal point of assumption in the field. Don't be satisfied with having seen some of the movies or having read some of the synopses and notes, treat yourself.
May 19, 2024
if he be mr hyde I shall be mr seek <- real line in this book
October 19, 2023
3.5 stars
I borrowed this book to read the main-billed story, that of Jekyll and Hyde.
Two of the main reasons I enjoyed this story. The atmosphere of London, and the questions on morality. Brilliantly handled in this book. For a novella, the atmosphere is richly described and almost tactile. And then the questions on morality. When are you guilty of misdeeds? What does it mean to be good or evil? What brings about deviance? I think Stevenson seemed a tad obsessed with the question of deviance in this story. One must wonder how obsessed the Victorian writer was with deviance and morality.
In any event, what is presented to the reader in the story of Jekyll and Hyde is many things. A mystery, a Gothic horror, a thriller, and even a sci-fi/fantasy. While much of this story is character driven, for me it's the atmosphere that provides the bulk of the Gothic feel.
A story that makes you question.
I borrowed this book to read the main-billed story, that of Jekyll and Hyde.
Two of the main reasons I enjoyed this story. The atmosphere of London, and the questions on morality. Brilliantly handled in this book. For a novella, the atmosphere is richly described and almost tactile. And then the questions on morality. When are you guilty of misdeeds? What does it mean to be good or evil? What brings about deviance? I think Stevenson seemed a tad obsessed with the question of deviance in this story. One must wonder how obsessed the Victorian writer was with deviance and morality.
In any event, what is presented to the reader in the story of Jekyll and Hyde is many things. A mystery, a Gothic horror, a thriller, and even a sci-fi/fantasy. While much of this story is character driven, for me it's the atmosphere that provides the bulk of the Gothic feel.
A story that makes you question.
August 7, 2021
4.5 Stars rounding down. Very good.
October 19, 2020
In all the times I heard of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, I never thought it to be a short story; for some reason, I have always assumed it to be a novel. That being said, I'm no big fan of short stories, they always feel abrupt to me (if you didn't know, I love bulky books) and needing more material to them.
In this collection, the only stories I liked and enjoyed were the one of Dr Jekyll and the Body Snatcher.
Surprisingly, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde made me think so much of the Picture of Dorian Gray, and I had my doubts about how it'll end way before I was done reading.
In this collection, the only stories I liked and enjoyed were the one of Dr Jekyll and the Body Snatcher.
Surprisingly, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde made me think so much of the Picture of Dorian Gray, and I had my doubts about how it'll end way before I was done reading.
June 30, 2025
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde: 4/5
The Body-Snatcher: 3/5
A Lodging for the Night: 3/5
Markheim: 4/5
Thrawn Janet: 2/5
The Misadventures of John Nicholson: 2/5
The Body-Snatcher: 3/5
A Lodging for the Night: 3/5
Markheim: 4/5
Thrawn Janet: 2/5
The Misadventures of John Nicholson: 2/5
November 3, 2024
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is fantastic! I only wish I could have read it without the inherent spoiler. Even still, it is still a very well-written, intriguing story.
I really liked all the other stories except Thrawn Janet. That one is damn near impossible to read due to the informal (Scottish?) dialect it's written in. It's definitely not worth the effort, as the story is pretty blah. Markheim is the second-to-worst, but still cool. Anyway, the others are truly great.
I really liked all the other stories except Thrawn Janet. That one is damn near impossible to read due to the informal (Scottish?) dialect it's written in. It's definitely not worth the effort, as the story is pretty blah. Markheim is the second-to-worst, but still cool. Anyway, the others are truly great.
October 18, 2023
A classic tale of gothic horror and moral introspection.
Lawyer Mr. Utterson’s attention is drawn to the disreputable deeds of one Mr. Edward Hyde, whose behaviour is increasingly causing strife amongst London residents.
Utterson is deeply troubled by Hyde’s association with his client, Dr. Henry Jekyll, but Jekyll assures him he has no cause for alarm.
But when Hyde commits a brutal murder, Utterson is determined to aid his client escape this vile character. But the secret of Jekyll and Hyde is beyond any horror he could have imagined.
'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886, is a tale of gothic horror, blended with mystery and dashes of detective and science fiction, seasoned with folkloric and religious undertones and a touch of moral and political allegory. We witness events through the experience of Utterson - his increasing concerns regarding his client Henry Jekyll's association with Edward Hyde and his succeeding determination to help his friend and thwart the schemes of the fiend, descending into a revelation of body horror that pushes the boundaries of both science and faith and our perceptions of good and evil.
Exploring themes such as the duality of human nature; the concept of a higher and lower self, with morality and civility juxtaposed with our basic instincts; the masks we wear in public versus our private selves; and substance misuse, Stevenson delivers a perfectly realised tale – compelling and vividly told, steeped in atmosphere and suspense, its conclusion both thought-provoking and chilling. 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' was one of the earliest gothic horror tales I became acquainted with and remains one of my favourites. Along with 'Dracula, 'Frankenstein' and 'The Mummy', it cemented my love of horror fiction, and is one I often enjoy revisiting in one form or another, as well as finding inspiration from it in my own writing.
Inspiration for the story reportedly came to Stevenson in a dream whilst suffering ill health, and may in part have been influenced by reaction to the real crimes of Eugene Chantrelle, who murdered his wife and whom Stevenson had met, and William Brodie, a housebreaker and thief, whom Stevenson had made the subject of an earlier play. It has also been claimed that the case of Louis Vivet, one of the earliest patients diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (many will be familiar with the more commonly used term (until recently) of multiple personality disorder); however, research suggests the publication of the study of Vivet's case came after Stevenson's tale, with no evidence to suggest he may have been aware of it prior to writing his story.
The novella was first adapted for the stage in 1887, and many adaptations for the stage have followed throughout the next thirteen decades. In 1908, it was first adapted for film, the first of many screen adaptations throughout the century and into the next, with some versions less than faithful to the original text. To date, the story has been adapted over a hundred times, yet, despite this familiarity, the original story loses none of its power.
Thrilling and mesmerising, 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' remains a gothic classic, frothing and bubbling with horror and suspense.
[This edition also includes four horror short stories and the Christmas novella 'The Misadventures of John Nicholson'.]
Lawyer Mr. Utterson’s attention is drawn to the disreputable deeds of one Mr. Edward Hyde, whose behaviour is increasingly causing strife amongst London residents.
Utterson is deeply troubled by Hyde’s association with his client, Dr. Henry Jekyll, but Jekyll assures him he has no cause for alarm.
But when Hyde commits a brutal murder, Utterson is determined to aid his client escape this vile character. But the secret of Jekyll and Hyde is beyond any horror he could have imagined.
'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886, is a tale of gothic horror, blended with mystery and dashes of detective and science fiction, seasoned with folkloric and religious undertones and a touch of moral and political allegory. We witness events through the experience of Utterson - his increasing concerns regarding his client Henry Jekyll's association with Edward Hyde and his succeeding determination to help his friend and thwart the schemes of the fiend, descending into a revelation of body horror that pushes the boundaries of both science and faith and our perceptions of good and evil.
Exploring themes such as the duality of human nature; the concept of a higher and lower self, with morality and civility juxtaposed with our basic instincts; the masks we wear in public versus our private selves; and substance misuse, Stevenson delivers a perfectly realised tale – compelling and vividly told, steeped in atmosphere and suspense, its conclusion both thought-provoking and chilling. 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' was one of the earliest gothic horror tales I became acquainted with and remains one of my favourites. Along with 'Dracula, 'Frankenstein' and 'The Mummy', it cemented my love of horror fiction, and is one I often enjoy revisiting in one form or another, as well as finding inspiration from it in my own writing.
Inspiration for the story reportedly came to Stevenson in a dream whilst suffering ill health, and may in part have been influenced by reaction to the real crimes of Eugene Chantrelle, who murdered his wife and whom Stevenson had met, and William Brodie, a housebreaker and thief, whom Stevenson had made the subject of an earlier play. It has also been claimed that the case of Louis Vivet, one of the earliest patients diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (many will be familiar with the more commonly used term (until recently) of multiple personality disorder); however, research suggests the publication of the study of Vivet's case came after Stevenson's tale, with no evidence to suggest he may have been aware of it prior to writing his story.
The novella was first adapted for the stage in 1887, and many adaptations for the stage have followed throughout the next thirteen decades. In 1908, it was first adapted for film, the first of many screen adaptations throughout the century and into the next, with some versions less than faithful to the original text. To date, the story has been adapted over a hundred times, yet, despite this familiarity, the original story loses none of its power.
Thrilling and mesmerising, 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' remains a gothic classic, frothing and bubbling with horror and suspense.
[This edition also includes four horror short stories and the Christmas novella 'The Misadventures of John Nicholson'.]
July 6, 2024
8 The titular story was the best, and most interesting of the collection, but it was 70 pages of 240. The other stories had a lot to commend them as well, but did not always ignite my imagination. I must say Stevenson is a good writer (he should be, seeing as how his stories are still read today). His descriptions are vivid and convey a great sense of time and place. His characters too are well realised and distinctive. His dialogues are convincing. And most interesting, he displays a keen insight into human nature, and the contradictory impulses and urges that seem to clash in our hearts. Seeing as how there is a lot of allusion to religion here, it is not hard to see these stories as an illumination of Pauls lament in Romans 7, of his inability to do what he wants do do, and him not being able to stop doing what he doesn't want to do. Conscience has power over human nature, but is it powerful enough to stop our baser instincts, our lust and our selfishness? It is easy to go down on the slope towards evil, but hard to climb out. And is having a harsh life, being poor and hungry, an excuse to steal and murder? The effect of crime and sin on the human conscience are the same: once having chosen this path there seems to be only one way to go. But rich people, people in better positions, are not to judge. As they have not been tempted in the same way. Oh, and there's bad luck as well. Be careful who you choose for friends, as being in good company may keep you from going down, but bad company will only hasten your slide into darkness. This all is brought with convincing inner monologues and conversations, with the main characters caught reflecting on their inner lives. For those wanting to be good, these struggles are still only too real.
But these stories are pretty tense as well. The titular story is the best one. It was interesting to read as of course I have seen several adaptations and read comic books with the characters and the story is a lot different! It's written as a classic mystery, of mysterious circumstances leading to the death of a man, and then an explanation that leaves chills ...
'The Body-Snatcher' reads like a horror story, with the characters going to desperate measures and being confronted with their guilt.
'Markheim' has a burglar being confronted with the devil, or is he?
The final story, 'The Mis-Adventures of John Nicholson' is a tragi-comedy, detailing the life and adventures of John Nicholson, who gets into trouble because he runs away instead of confronting his troubles. Not as good as the titular story, but there's a bit of humour in it.
But these stories are pretty tense as well. The titular story is the best one. It was interesting to read as of course I have seen several adaptations and read comic books with the characters and the story is a lot different! It's written as a classic mystery, of mysterious circumstances leading to the death of a man, and then an explanation that leaves chills ...
'The Body-Snatcher' reads like a horror story, with the characters going to desperate measures and being confronted with their guilt.
'Markheim' has a burglar being confronted with the devil, or is he?
The final story, 'The Mis-Adventures of John Nicholson' is a tragi-comedy, detailing the life and adventures of John Nicholson, who gets into trouble because he runs away instead of confronting his troubles. Not as good as the titular story, but there's a bit of humour in it.
April 18, 2025
Imagine reading Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as a strapping British lad in the 1800s. Separated by 100 years from the story engrained in popular culture, you read to the end and find out Jekyll and Hyde are the same person! What a shock that must have been. Fortunately, I'm not British, but unfortunately, I read Jekyll and Hyde 150 odd years later.
Okay, the story is so well known there are no suprises to it. But I read Dracula knowing full well Count Dracula was a vampire and loved the novel nonetheless. Plot twists don't interest me so much as how they're presented. Jekyll and Hyde was a forgettable presentation. No characters or settings stand out, with the main point of interest being the general theme of the duality of man. There are interesting points, such as Hyde being smaller and disfigured to say Jekyll's evil side is less developed. But overall, like British cuisine, there's a lack of any complexity or depth in the characters, their motivations, and the overall plot.
This comes in part from form. Jekyll and Hyde is a short story, with less time to develop complex themes. Short stories instead serve well as parables or allegories. Today, unfortunately, the idea of the duality of man is a rather over-used and shallow allegory.
I found the same for the rest of the short stories in this collection. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote that Stevenson's short stories had few rivals in English literature. There must have not been many authors writing short stories in England then. That, or Chekov wasn't translated from Russian yet. While there were some interesting parts of these short stories, they were overall so forgettable that it's tough to write an in-depth review. Like British weather in the end, bland and grey, with the occasional moment where the sun breaks through the clouds. But overall, forgettable and bland writing.
Okay, the story is so well known there are no suprises to it. But I read Dracula knowing full well Count Dracula was a vampire and loved the novel nonetheless. Plot twists don't interest me so much as how they're presented. Jekyll and Hyde was a forgettable presentation. No characters or settings stand out, with the main point of interest being the general theme of the duality of man. There are interesting points, such as Hyde being smaller and disfigured to say Jekyll's evil side is less developed. But overall, like British cuisine, there's a lack of any complexity or depth in the characters, their motivations, and the overall plot.
This comes in part from form. Jekyll and Hyde is a short story, with less time to develop complex themes. Short stories instead serve well as parables or allegories. Today, unfortunately, the idea of the duality of man is a rather over-used and shallow allegory.
I found the same for the rest of the short stories in this collection. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote that Stevenson's short stories had few rivals in English literature. There must have not been many authors writing short stories in England then. That, or Chekov wasn't translated from Russian yet. While there were some interesting parts of these short stories, they were overall so forgettable that it's tough to write an in-depth review. Like British weather in the end, bland and grey, with the occasional moment where the sun breaks through the clouds. But overall, forgettable and bland writing.
October 24, 2020
I was interested in reading The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde because the youtube channel Overly Sarcastic Productions had in a series of classical holoween reads, and I made my resolution to pick one book each year from the collection of books they had shared.
Last year, it was Dracula, and as much I enjoyed the story and the slow burn of the events and the true horror without the gore of the actual Dracula, plus how much I cracked over Bram Stoker's representation of the only American character, I didn't like many aspects that didn't age well (I'm talking to your sexist ass, Van Helsing)
So this year it was this book, and to my astonishement, this edition came with additional short stories by the same authors.
Talking about the story with the same title as the book, I bloddy loved it, I loved how deep the message was behind the book; each one of us has a darker side, and what makes us good or bad is how we come to deal with the darker aspects of our personalities. Dr Jekyll wanted to represent the two things at the same time, whoch created a paradox inside of him, making the bad take over because it is more primal, raw and easy to surface.
The next stories didn't have the supernatural horror aspects, but they too held a deeper meaning behind them, showing that storytelling isn't just for entairtement, but to learn something behind it.
Last year, it was Dracula, and as much I enjoyed the story and the slow burn of the events and the true horror without the gore of the actual Dracula, plus how much I cracked over Bram Stoker's representation of the only American character, I didn't like many aspects that didn't age well (I'm talking to your sexist ass, Van Helsing)
So this year it was this book, and to my astonishement, this edition came with additional short stories by the same authors.
Talking about the story with the same title as the book, I bloddy loved it, I loved how deep the message was behind the book; each one of us has a darker side, and what makes us good or bad is how we come to deal with the darker aspects of our personalities. Dr Jekyll wanted to represent the two things at the same time, whoch created a paradox inside of him, making the bad take over because it is more primal, raw and easy to surface.
The next stories didn't have the supernatural horror aspects, but they too held a deeper meaning behind them, showing that storytelling isn't just for entairtement, but to learn something behind it.
December 30, 2014
*maybe a spoiler??*
I had to read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for my university course but I was already planning on reading it in my spare time. I was impressed! There is so much hype on this story that I wanted to try it out, so glad that I chose a course where I had no choice but to read this! Haha.
I found the story to be very fast paced and I read it in a couple of hours spanned over two days! I found it interesting that we didn't get Dr Jekyll's perspective till the very end, so most of the story was from the lawyer which I found to be a nice touch as we get to see two different points of view :)
Overall, it was a very cool and interesting story! I've had a little skim over the other stories that are featured in this book and again I was surprised at how good they were but for this review, I have mainly made this about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde :)
If you haven't read this, go! Go now and pick it up!
You won't be disappointed.
I had to read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for my university course but I was already planning on reading it in my spare time. I was impressed! There is so much hype on this story that I wanted to try it out, so glad that I chose a course where I had no choice but to read this! Haha.
I found the story to be very fast paced and I read it in a couple of hours spanned over two days! I found it interesting that we didn't get Dr Jekyll's perspective till the very end, so most of the story was from the lawyer which I found to be a nice touch as we get to see two different points of view :)
Overall, it was a very cool and interesting story! I've had a little skim over the other stories that are featured in this book and again I was surprised at how good they were but for this review, I have mainly made this about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde :)
If you haven't read this, go! Go now and pick it up!
You won't be disappointed.
March 24, 2021
Unbelievably I had never read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and was shocked to discover such an important work was so short. RLS has a great way exploring the depravities of human nature, with or without redemption.
November 10, 2025
Jetzt zum Herbst/Halloween rumgekommen, diese Geschichte endlich im Original zu lesen.
Sprachlich passt der Text in seine viktorianische Periode. Gehoben, oft lange und gewundene Sätze, nüchtern und sachlich, evokativ. Gleich zu Beginn wird ein schaurig-schönes Bild des dunklen, dreckigen und vernebelten Londons gezeichnet. Für die kurzen gut 80 Seiten ist die Geschichte dabei sehr dicht und abwechslungsreich. Es wechseln sich verschiedene Erzählperspektiven ab (auktorial, personal, Ich) und es ähnelt strukturell einem Krimi. Viele Kapitel enden mit einem Cliffhanger, immer mehr Puzzleteile werden hinzugefügt, falsche Fährten gelegt und es endet mit einer allumfassenden Beichte von Jekyll. Es hat eine gewisse Spannung, die grosse Enthüllung, die zur Zeit des Textes vermutlich sehr viel stärker gewirkt haben muss, ist aus heutiger Perspektive aber absehbar und eher ein laues Lüftchen. Einfach weil wir es schon oft genug ähnlich gelesen/gehört/gesehen haben.
Thematisch dreht es sich um die Dualität des Menschen, dass jeder Gut und Böse in sich trägt und diese beiden Seiten, wie das Experiment von Jekyll zeigt, nicht einfach voneinander getrennt werden können. Dieser Kontrast wird stilistisch durch Spannungen zwischen Licht und Dunkel, Ordnung und Chaos oder Vernunft und Trieb wie auch sprachlichen Änderungen unterstrichen und getragen. Und natürlich drängen sich Bezüge zur Freudschen Psychoanalyse förmlich auf, die er kurz nach Veröffentlichung entwickelte. Klassischer Konflikt zwischen Es und Über-Ich.
Interessant fand ich vor allem die Lesart mit Jekyll als Archetypen eines Drogenabhängigen. Der Trank als seine Substanz, die kurzfristig Freiheit und Entlastung verspricht, aber langfristig Kontrolle und Identität zerstört. So werden alle Muster der Abhängigkeit beschrieben – das heimliche Experimentieren und Konsumieren, das Leugnen der Gefahr, Selbstrechtfertigung, zunehmende Machtlosigkeit, Absturz und verzweifelte Beichte.
I will tell you one thing: the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde. I give you my hand upon that.
Insbesondere im Hinblick darauf, dass Stevenson diesen Text, nachdem seine Frau den ersten Entwurf ins Feuer geworfen hatte, innerhalb von drei Tagen und Nächten in einem Kokainrausch komplett neu geschrieben hatte und sich damit in eine ganze Reihe von Schriftsteller*innen einreiht, die ein wenig nachgeholfen haben. Da muss ich auch wieder an die Geschichte des Shelley-Ehepaars denken, die sich mit Polidori auf Laudanum-Trip im eingeschneiten Schweizer Chalet Spukgeschichten erzählten. Da scheint es naheliegend, dass dabei Meisterwerke der Schauerliteratur herauskommen.
All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil. Man is not truly one, but truly two.
Sprachlich passt der Text in seine viktorianische Periode. Gehoben, oft lange und gewundene Sätze, nüchtern und sachlich, evokativ. Gleich zu Beginn wird ein schaurig-schönes Bild des dunklen, dreckigen und vernebelten Londons gezeichnet. Für die kurzen gut 80 Seiten ist die Geschichte dabei sehr dicht und abwechslungsreich. Es wechseln sich verschiedene Erzählperspektiven ab (auktorial, personal, Ich) und es ähnelt strukturell einem Krimi. Viele Kapitel enden mit einem Cliffhanger, immer mehr Puzzleteile werden hinzugefügt, falsche Fährten gelegt und es endet mit einer allumfassenden Beichte von Jekyll. Es hat eine gewisse Spannung, die grosse Enthüllung, die zur Zeit des Textes vermutlich sehr viel stärker gewirkt haben muss, ist aus heutiger Perspektive aber absehbar und eher ein laues Lüftchen. Einfach weil wir es schon oft genug ähnlich gelesen/gehört/gesehen haben.
Thematisch dreht es sich um die Dualität des Menschen, dass jeder Gut und Böse in sich trägt und diese beiden Seiten, wie das Experiment von Jekyll zeigt, nicht einfach voneinander getrennt werden können. Dieser Kontrast wird stilistisch durch Spannungen zwischen Licht und Dunkel, Ordnung und Chaos oder Vernunft und Trieb wie auch sprachlichen Änderungen unterstrichen und getragen. Und natürlich drängen sich Bezüge zur Freudschen Psychoanalyse förmlich auf, die er kurz nach Veröffentlichung entwickelte. Klassischer Konflikt zwischen Es und Über-Ich.
Interessant fand ich vor allem die Lesart mit Jekyll als Archetypen eines Drogenabhängigen. Der Trank als seine Substanz, die kurzfristig Freiheit und Entlastung verspricht, aber langfristig Kontrolle und Identität zerstört. So werden alle Muster der Abhängigkeit beschrieben – das heimliche Experimentieren und Konsumieren, das Leugnen der Gefahr, Selbstrechtfertigung, zunehmende Machtlosigkeit, Absturz und verzweifelte Beichte.
I will tell you one thing: the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde. I give you my hand upon that.
Insbesondere im Hinblick darauf, dass Stevenson diesen Text, nachdem seine Frau den ersten Entwurf ins Feuer geworfen hatte, innerhalb von drei Tagen und Nächten in einem Kokainrausch komplett neu geschrieben hatte und sich damit in eine ganze Reihe von Schriftsteller*innen einreiht, die ein wenig nachgeholfen haben. Da muss ich auch wieder an die Geschichte des Shelley-Ehepaars denken, die sich mit Polidori auf Laudanum-Trip im eingeschneiten Schweizer Chalet Spukgeschichten erzählten. Da scheint es naheliegend, dass dabei Meisterwerke der Schauerliteratur herauskommen.
All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil. Man is not truly one, but truly two.
Read
November 18, 2025Why does he likes the Word „clamity” and „perplexity” so much?? Like this gives vibes that he learnt two fancy words and keeps on using them to seem to have wide vacabulary
I will forget this book in the next two minutes (maybe beside the actual story of dr. Jekllyn and Mr. Hyde)
I will forget this book in the next two minutes (maybe beside the actual story of dr. Jekllyn and Mr. Hyde)
January 19, 2016
I have no idea how I should rate a collection of short stories, so I'm just going to go with a 3 star rating because some were better than others. I'll briefly mention my thoughts on all the stories below.
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
This one's a classic, of course, and this was my second time reading it. The first was five years ago so my memory of it is vague, meaning that I got to essentially rediscover it again this time. There are about a million reviews on this one, so I don't want to repeat them, but I do want to say that this is great, and this is short, so why not just read it?
The Body Snatcher
One of the creepier tales in this collection, I thought. My favourite story here besides Jekyll and Hyde.
A Lodging for the Night
An interesting little story, but with an overall unlikeable main character.
Markheim
I actually had to just open my copy of the book and flip to a passage from Markheim to even recall what this was about, which is kind of sad. It has a very strong ending though.
Thrawn Janet
Most of my brain power went into trying to understand what was even being said so I guess I didn't get a lot out of it plot-wise. More of a pain than anything else, really.
The Misadventures of John Nicholson
You kind of love and hate John. He does get up to some misadventures and it was an all right read.
I also feel like I should note, in general, that there is a murder or a death in every single one of these stories. That's pretty cool.
Overall, do I feel like this book was worth reading past the first classic short story within? Yes.
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
This one's a classic, of course, and this was my second time reading it. The first was five years ago so my memory of it is vague, meaning that I got to essentially rediscover it again this time. There are about a million reviews on this one, so I don't want to repeat them, but I do want to say that this is great, and this is short, so why not just read it?
The Body Snatcher
One of the creepier tales in this collection, I thought. My favourite story here besides Jekyll and Hyde.
A Lodging for the Night
An interesting little story, but with an overall unlikeable main character.
Markheim
I actually had to just open my copy of the book and flip to a passage from Markheim to even recall what this was about, which is kind of sad. It has a very strong ending though.
Thrawn Janet
Most of my brain power went into trying to understand what was even being said so I guess I didn't get a lot out of it plot-wise. More of a pain than anything else, really.
The Misadventures of John Nicholson
You kind of love and hate John. He does get up to some misadventures and it was an all right read.
I also feel like I should note, in general, that there is a murder or a death in every single one of these stories. That's pretty cool.
Overall, do I feel like this book was worth reading past the first classic short story within? Yes.
October 6, 2017
Read this again for my Lit Circle groups at school. It's very different to the idea people have in their heads of this story (Like Shelly's Frankenstein). The story structure is super weird and I think the kids found it difficult because the nature of Hyde's sins is never really explained.
March 29, 2010
The plot was kind of boring at times, and I think that has to do with the fact that we all know the plot twist before we read it.
March 17, 2020
This is my favorite classic monster, and the other terror stories are amazing too.
September 25, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was not an easy read I will say. But enjoyable story.
This was not an easy read I will say. But enjoyable story.
March 22, 2024
lil bro got that dog in him
October 17, 2024
“It’s sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see.”
Now THIS is the speed I wanna be going! Sure the last two stories here are basically Christmas stories, but one pulls up nicely by having the Literal Devil show up and smite the shitty protagonist so GOOD VIBES all around!
Jekyll and Hyde was like an entirely new book to me. I think the last time I even tried to read it I was like…13? Coming back around to it nearly 20 years later reveals a real fun read that’s chocked full of like Dad jokes? That’s a delight. And I actually did like a lot of the stories here, they all are appropriately charming and have some neat novelty in that, I’m basically wholly unfamiliar with Stevenson’s larger canon.
Genuinely happy I put this on the list. It’s something everybody should read at least once.
Now THIS is the speed I wanna be going! Sure the last two stories here are basically Christmas stories, but one pulls up nicely by having the Literal Devil show up and smite the shitty protagonist so GOOD VIBES all around!
Jekyll and Hyde was like an entirely new book to me. I think the last time I even tried to read it I was like…13? Coming back around to it nearly 20 years later reveals a real fun read that’s chocked full of like Dad jokes? That’s a delight. And I actually did like a lot of the stories here, they all are appropriately charming and have some neat novelty in that, I’m basically wholly unfamiliar with Stevenson’s larger canon.
Genuinely happy I put this on the list. It’s something everybody should read at least once.
January 27, 2019
Disclaimer: I am giving this collection 5 stars strictly because of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the short story Markheim. Both of which are glorious masterpieces. These stories, pretty exclusively, are what have sold me on Stevenson as a genius and literary rock star (didn't love Treasure Island and was bored by Kidnapped).
✴Jekyll and Hyde: Firstly, I was blown away by the description of Hyde. We've all seen different film adaptations of the story (my favorite being the Pagemaster-- yasss Macaulay Culkin-- and my least favorite being Van Helsing-- a truly awful movie all around). Invariably, Hyde is a huge, hulking, hideous monster. Not so in the original story! Hyde is dwarfed, impish, hairy, stunted and young. There are even scenes in which Hyde is wearing Jekyll's clothes, which are baggy on him to the point of looking almost ridiculous, if it weren't that Hyde himself was so uncannily sinister-looking. Every character to have the displeasure of meeting him describes him as deformed but no one can quite put their finger on what exactly deforms him. And Stevenson explains this choice through Jekyll's final letter:
"the evil side of my nature...was less robust and less developed than the good which I had just deposed. Again, in the course of my life, which had been, after all, nine-tenths a life of effort, virtue, and control, it had been less exercised and less exhausted. And hence, I think, it came about that Edward Hyde was so much smaller, lighter, and younger than Henry Jekyll"
One of my other favorite parts about this story is that it is not about the splitting of good vs evil. Jekyll was not good, but rather a balance of good and evil dueling inside him. There is a moment when Jekyll reflects that he did not purposefully make the potion to single out his evil, and thinks it could have gone the other way, that the potion could have made a undiluted good person, but perhaps his evil nature won out against the good. In a way, this story reminded me of The Picture of Dorien Gray. Evil is insidious and can often overcome and stamp out the goodness within a person until they are hollowed out and only evil remains.
Sometimes I wonder though just how good Jekyll was. He welcomed Hyde. He delighted in Hyde's baseness, he thoroughly enjoyed shedding his uprightness, his responsibilities and respectability and donning the mask of the villan. He created the potion that unleashed the monster, then washed his hands of Hyde's cruelty, feeling entirely innocent of his actions. It feels trite to say this is a story of hidden evil vs blatant evil. I suppose it depends on how you define goodness. Were Jekyll's actions, virtue, charity, and good citizenship enough to qualify him as decent? And then we can't forget his final victory against Hyde. Was Jekyll's suicide enough to redeem him? Just an amazing short story: so much depth in so few words!!
✴Markheim: One of my new favorite short stories of all time. Just incredible insight into the mind of a deeply regretful half-crazed and paranoid murderer. The word choice is powerful and dazzling, with an artful dash of ambiguity. This is a story about redemption, about blindness to our self-condemning actions, about naivety to our depraved condition.
I love how Stevenson used Time as a construct in the story. My two favorite sensory moments: (1) when the dealer lies dead at Markheim's feet and nothing is heard but the soft and peaceful ticking of the clocks. A beautiful juxtaposition of violence and banal normalcy. (2) then the sudden chaos of sound when all the clocks strike three and nearly drive Markheim, already unhinged, into a panic.
This is my favorite quote from the story. Marheim rambles it off to the dealer right before he murders him:
"Life is so short and insecure that I would not hurry away from any pleasure...we should rather cling, cling to what we can get, like a man at a cliff's edge. Every second is a cliff, if you think upon it-- a cliff a mile high-- high enough, if we fall, to dash us out of every feature of humanity."
✴The Body Snatcher- not a 50s sci-fi flick! Just a simple, classic horror story. The ending did absolutely nothing for me. I will say it was pretty awesome that this story was based on true events in Scotland circa 1820s. Look up Dr. Robert Knox. Oh the lengths people will go for the furthering of science!
✴A Lodging for the Night: This story has an interesting dialogue between the thief and the soldier about social constructions of morality and honor, but felt like an essay disguised as a short story.
✴Thrawn Janet: I have no idea what this was about. It is entirely in Scottish gibberish. Something about a witch (Janet) and a Reverend. My only inkling is that its main theme is how the scholarly will ignorantly scoff at the superstition of the simple and that this is folly. I could be totally wrong though. Sample: "the saughs tossed an' maned thegither, a lang sigh cam' ower the hills". Whaaaat? Nice appreciation of Scottish dialect and culture I suppose?
✴The Misadventures of John Nicholson: best opening line ever: "John Varey Nicholson was stupid; yet stupider men than he are now sprawling in Parliament..." This story doesn't blow you away, it is just comical and silly. John is for sure a self-pitying dummy and unlucky to boot. He is a pretty unlikable guy because he never grew up. Just a cowardly, prideful, pouty little boy in a man's body. Flora is the best character in the story. Shout out to my strong femmes. Best part in the story is when she has NONE of his nonsense and refuses to hear his excuses about how unfortunate his life is. A fun little read.
✴Jekyll and Hyde: Firstly, I was blown away by the description of Hyde. We've all seen different film adaptations of the story (my favorite being the Pagemaster-- yasss Macaulay Culkin-- and my least favorite being Van Helsing-- a truly awful movie all around). Invariably, Hyde is a huge, hulking, hideous monster. Not so in the original story! Hyde is dwarfed, impish, hairy, stunted and young. There are even scenes in which Hyde is wearing Jekyll's clothes, which are baggy on him to the point of looking almost ridiculous, if it weren't that Hyde himself was so uncannily sinister-looking. Every character to have the displeasure of meeting him describes him as deformed but no one can quite put their finger on what exactly deforms him. And Stevenson explains this choice through Jekyll's final letter:
"the evil side of my nature...was less robust and less developed than the good which I had just deposed. Again, in the course of my life, which had been, after all, nine-tenths a life of effort, virtue, and control, it had been less exercised and less exhausted. And hence, I think, it came about that Edward Hyde was so much smaller, lighter, and younger than Henry Jekyll"
One of my other favorite parts about this story is that it is not about the splitting of good vs evil. Jekyll was not good, but rather a balance of good and evil dueling inside him. There is a moment when Jekyll reflects that he did not purposefully make the potion to single out his evil, and thinks it could have gone the other way, that the potion could have made a undiluted good person, but perhaps his evil nature won out against the good. In a way, this story reminded me of The Picture of Dorien Gray. Evil is insidious and can often overcome and stamp out the goodness within a person until they are hollowed out and only evil remains.
Sometimes I wonder though just how good Jekyll was. He welcomed Hyde. He delighted in Hyde's baseness, he thoroughly enjoyed shedding his uprightness, his responsibilities and respectability and donning the mask of the villan. He created the potion that unleashed the monster, then washed his hands of Hyde's cruelty, feeling entirely innocent of his actions. It feels trite to say this is a story of hidden evil vs blatant evil. I suppose it depends on how you define goodness. Were Jekyll's actions, virtue, charity, and good citizenship enough to qualify him as decent? And then we can't forget his final victory against Hyde. Was Jekyll's suicide enough to redeem him? Just an amazing short story: so much depth in so few words!!
✴Markheim: One of my new favorite short stories of all time. Just incredible insight into the mind of a deeply regretful half-crazed and paranoid murderer. The word choice is powerful and dazzling, with an artful dash of ambiguity. This is a story about redemption, about blindness to our self-condemning actions, about naivety to our depraved condition.
I love how Stevenson used Time as a construct in the story. My two favorite sensory moments: (1) when the dealer lies dead at Markheim's feet and nothing is heard but the soft and peaceful ticking of the clocks. A beautiful juxtaposition of violence and banal normalcy. (2) then the sudden chaos of sound when all the clocks strike three and nearly drive Markheim, already unhinged, into a panic.
This is my favorite quote from the story. Marheim rambles it off to the dealer right before he murders him:
"Life is so short and insecure that I would not hurry away from any pleasure...we should rather cling, cling to what we can get, like a man at a cliff's edge. Every second is a cliff, if you think upon it-- a cliff a mile high-- high enough, if we fall, to dash us out of every feature of humanity."
✴The Body Snatcher- not a 50s sci-fi flick! Just a simple, classic horror story. The ending did absolutely nothing for me. I will say it was pretty awesome that this story was based on true events in Scotland circa 1820s. Look up Dr. Robert Knox. Oh the lengths people will go for the furthering of science!
✴A Lodging for the Night: This story has an interesting dialogue between the thief and the soldier about social constructions of morality and honor, but felt like an essay disguised as a short story.
✴Thrawn Janet: I have no idea what this was about. It is entirely in Scottish gibberish. Something about a witch (Janet) and a Reverend. My only inkling is that its main theme is how the scholarly will ignorantly scoff at the superstition of the simple and that this is folly. I could be totally wrong though. Sample: "the saughs tossed an' maned thegither, a lang sigh cam' ower the hills". Whaaaat? Nice appreciation of Scottish dialect and culture I suppose?
✴The Misadventures of John Nicholson: best opening line ever: "John Varey Nicholson was stupid; yet stupider men than he are now sprawling in Parliament..." This story doesn't blow you away, it is just comical and silly. John is for sure a self-pitying dummy and unlucky to boot. He is a pretty unlikable guy because he never grew up. Just a cowardly, prideful, pouty little boy in a man's body. Flora is the best character in the story. Shout out to my strong femmes. Best part in the story is when she has NONE of his nonsense and refuses to hear his excuses about how unfortunate his life is. A fun little read.
December 6, 2025
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is stellar, of course, and I also really enjoyed The Body Snatcher. None of the others particularly stood out to me.
December 8, 2018
I knew this story, of course. It's one of those stories that has so seeped into popular culture that you know it in many forms even if you've never read the original. In fact, I wasn't sure if I had read the original at some point or not.
I picked up the audiobook as read by Richard Armitage. It's wonderful. One of those perfect marriages of story and voice that sometimes make an audiobook even more enjoyable than a paper book.
After reading it, I am pretty sure that I had not actually read it before.
The telling is different than any of the iterations onscreen or stage I have seen. I wish I could have read it without knowing the story, in fact. The artistry would be more striking if it could have been a surprise. Even knowing what the mystery was all about and what the reveal would be when it came, I found it wonderfully atmospheric.
The story is told by Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll's friend and lawyer, a proper Victorian gentleman, all honor and crisp uprightness. Utterson is clueless as to what is actually going on, and for the entire story thinks that Dr. Jekyll is being blackmailed, threatened or otherwise coerced by another man altogether, the heinous and horrible Mr. Hyde.
There's this wonderful section when Dr. Jekyll's "man" sends for Mr. Utterson, a step which is highly unusual in and of itself, as it breaks privacy and brings a third party into what might be a shameful situation. The poor manservant is convinced that his master is dead and that Mr. Hyde is lurking in the laboratory instead, which is, in a way, exactly what has happened.
The reveal about what has actually been going on doesn't come until the very end of the book and comes in the form of a letter from Dr. Jekyll himself, detailing the nature of his experiments and how it all gone horribly awry. This part hits on many of my favorite themes (also in works like The Island of Dr. Moreau, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray): the mind/body divide, a desire to control something that cannot be controlled, shame, exultation. Like all mad scientists, Dr. Jekyll did not start out intending harm and his aims seem reasonable at first.
The story is perfect in its simplicity. It is not unnecessarily crowded with minor characters or too much detail about the experiments. Instead, it's all about capturing the feelings. This one is staying on a list of favorites for sure.
I picked up the audiobook as read by Richard Armitage. It's wonderful. One of those perfect marriages of story and voice that sometimes make an audiobook even more enjoyable than a paper book.
After reading it, I am pretty sure that I had not actually read it before.
The telling is different than any of the iterations onscreen or stage I have seen. I wish I could have read it without knowing the story, in fact. The artistry would be more striking if it could have been a surprise. Even knowing what the mystery was all about and what the reveal would be when it came, I found it wonderfully atmospheric.
The story is told by Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll's friend and lawyer, a proper Victorian gentleman, all honor and crisp uprightness. Utterson is clueless as to what is actually going on, and for the entire story thinks that Dr. Jekyll is being blackmailed, threatened or otherwise coerced by another man altogether, the heinous and horrible Mr. Hyde.
There's this wonderful section when Dr. Jekyll's "man" sends for Mr. Utterson, a step which is highly unusual in and of itself, as it breaks privacy and brings a third party into what might be a shameful situation. The poor manservant is convinced that his master is dead and that Mr. Hyde is lurking in the laboratory instead, which is, in a way, exactly what has happened.
The reveal about what has actually been going on doesn't come until the very end of the book and comes in the form of a letter from Dr. Jekyll himself, detailing the nature of his experiments and how it all gone horribly awry. This part hits on many of my favorite themes (also in works like The Island of Dr. Moreau, Frankenstein, and The Picture of Dorian Gray): the mind/body divide, a desire to control something that cannot be controlled, shame, exultation. Like all mad scientists, Dr. Jekyll did not start out intending harm and his aims seem reasonable at first.
The story is perfect in its simplicity. It is not unnecessarily crowded with minor characters or too much detail about the experiments. Instead, it's all about capturing the feelings. This one is staying on a list of favorites for sure.
February 15, 2022
Stars: 2/5
I guess with how notorious and classically-liked Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was, I had this idea that it was the main story of this book and would be a lot longer than it was. But it was only about 80 pages of this 200+ page book which was pretty disappointing, especially since it was such a clear standout to me from the others. I would have enjoyed it more if it were a whole novel expanded from this one story. It was the strongest story of the book in terms of characters, action and suspense, and it was a smart marketing choice to make it the first and titular story.
The other stories were pretty hit or miss for me, but mostly it felt like a lot of repetition.
'The Body-Snatcher' was one of the better stories given that it was one of the shorter and sweeter stories of the book and the sense of horror and dread elevated it significantly. It felt like a very modern horror short story, which is why I enjoyed it.
'Lodging for the Night' and 'Markheim' were so similar and repetitive to me that I really didn't care that much about them individually, and also by this point into reading the book I was progressively more disengaged. There's a recurrent theme around corruption and repentance in all of the stories but these few laid it on so thick it was sickening, especially in the former where the religious/moral rant carries on for way too long. Markheim was a little more interesting because of the intrigue around the Visitant and the suspense of not knowing what the main character would choose.
'Thrawn Janet' and 'The Misadventure of John Nicholson' were the worst stories by far in my opinion but that might have had something to do with how badly I wanted to finish this book. 'Thrawn Janet' was basically illegible. The Scottish accent of the storyteller made this completely obscure to me and I only vaguely understood what was happening at all. The latter of these was just way too long for me, especially as the ultimate story that rounds off this book. I didn't much care for the main character or his titular misadventures and by this point the concept of good people - bad deeds had been beaten over my head so much I was just irritated.
I firmly believe that Stevenson's talent with gothic and horror stories was the real strength here and I wish the collection had been limited more to these.
I guess with how notorious and classically-liked Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was, I had this idea that it was the main story of this book and would be a lot longer than it was. But it was only about 80 pages of this 200+ page book which was pretty disappointing, especially since it was such a clear standout to me from the others. I would have enjoyed it more if it were a whole novel expanded from this one story. It was the strongest story of the book in terms of characters, action and suspense, and it was a smart marketing choice to make it the first and titular story.
The other stories were pretty hit or miss for me, but mostly it felt like a lot of repetition.
'The Body-Snatcher' was one of the better stories given that it was one of the shorter and sweeter stories of the book and the sense of horror and dread elevated it significantly. It felt like a very modern horror short story, which is why I enjoyed it.
'Lodging for the Night' and 'Markheim' were so similar and repetitive to me that I really didn't care that much about them individually, and also by this point into reading the book I was progressively more disengaged. There's a recurrent theme around corruption and repentance in all of the stories but these few laid it on so thick it was sickening, especially in the former where the religious/moral rant carries on for way too long. Markheim was a little more interesting because of the intrigue around the Visitant and the suspense of not knowing what the main character would choose.
'Thrawn Janet' and 'The Misadventure of John Nicholson' were the worst stories by far in my opinion but that might have had something to do with how badly I wanted to finish this book. 'Thrawn Janet' was basically illegible. The Scottish accent of the storyteller made this completely obscure to me and I only vaguely understood what was happening at all. The latter of these was just way too long for me, especially as the ultimate story that rounds off this book. I didn't much care for the main character or his titular misadventures and by this point the concept of good people - bad deeds had been beaten over my head so much I was just irritated.
I firmly believe that Stevenson's talent with gothic and horror stories was the real strength here and I wish the collection had been limited more to these.
August 14, 2020
“I learned to recognise the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both.”
I loved this collection of short stories by Robert Louis Stevenson. Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was the strongest of the lot: it was a compelling mystery, and I loved the air of tragedy and dread in the story. The narration and the slow discovery of what was happening made it all the more interesting. I couldn't put it down. Bodysnatcher was dark, eerie and I loved the unexpected ending. While all the stories wrestle with the question of morality, A Lodging for the Night, Markheim and The Misadventures of John Nicholson are more explicit about it. Thrawn Janet was a little difficult to read at first, because of the dialect used in the story. Once I began to read it out loud, I could make out the story. It was pure horror and I enjoyed the scare.
Every story had something that caught my attention in the beginning - a strange or eerie occurrence - that made me want to read on. The endings were strong for all the stories, and the narration pleasant. I felt like someone was reading these stories out loud for me, and I for my part, greatly enjoyed the journey.
I loved this collection of short stories by Robert Louis Stevenson. Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was the strongest of the lot: it was a compelling mystery, and I loved the air of tragedy and dread in the story. The narration and the slow discovery of what was happening made it all the more interesting. I couldn't put it down. Bodysnatcher was dark, eerie and I loved the unexpected ending. While all the stories wrestle with the question of morality, A Lodging for the Night, Markheim and The Misadventures of John Nicholson are more explicit about it. Thrawn Janet was a little difficult to read at first, because of the dialect used in the story. Once I began to read it out loud, I could make out the story. It was pure horror and I enjoyed the scare.
Every story had something that caught my attention in the beginning - a strange or eerie occurrence - that made me want to read on. The endings were strong for all the stories, and the narration pleasant. I felt like someone was reading these stories out loud for me, and I for my part, greatly enjoyed the journey.
August 31, 2010
I only really wanted to read the strange case of dr Jekyll and mr Hyde when I picked up this book, and while I really enjoyed that story, I was pleasantly surprised by some of the other short stories in this book. Most of the stories are strange tales of sinners and murderers.
All of them are entertaining in their own right, but the highlight of the book for me was The Misadventures of John Nicholson, a story about a hapless boy who is cursed with terrible luck and accused of crimes he didn't commit. I couldn't help but think of John as being somewhat naive and oblivious to the blundering errors he makes during the story but this just makes him all the more amiable.
If you want to get a copy of Jekyll and Hyde I would definitely recommend this one as the other stories are real gems to.
All of them are entertaining in their own right, but the highlight of the book for me was The Misadventures of John Nicholson, a story about a hapless boy who is cursed with terrible luck and accused of crimes he didn't commit. I couldn't help but think of John as being somewhat naive and oblivious to the blundering errors he makes during the story but this just makes him all the more amiable.
If you want to get a copy of Jekyll and Hyde I would definitely recommend this one as the other stories are real gems to.
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January 23, 2022Jekyll and Hyde:
This was such an immersive read. The language of the story, obviously written in the early 1900s, conveyed the eerie tale. The atmosphere was palpable. The inclusion of different perspectives through letters was such a unique and effective way to tell the story. I am happy to say I have fallen for another classic!
Body snatcher:
This was too vague. I was very lost in the beginning and then as the story transitioned to the history between our main characters I was intrigued; however, it was a far more ethical-based plot than spooky. This was not my ideal read and the pacing was a bit odd.
This was such an immersive read. The language of the story, obviously written in the early 1900s, conveyed the eerie tale. The atmosphere was palpable. The inclusion of different perspectives through letters was such a unique and effective way to tell the story. I am happy to say I have fallen for another classic!
Body snatcher:
This was too vague. I was very lost in the beginning and then as the story transitioned to the history between our main characters I was intrigued; however, it was a far more ethical-based plot than spooky. This was not my ideal read and the pacing was a bit odd.
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