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The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Other Stories
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a masterpiece of Victorian literature and one of the most potent and enduring of modern myths. Why has Dr Jekyll begun to associate with the ugly and violent Mr Hyde? When Jekyll's friend Utterson tries to solve this mystery he uncovers a horrific story of murder and suffering which leads eventually to the terrible revelation of Mr Hyde's true identity. Also in this volume are three other memorable stories: The Body Snatchers, Markheim and Olalla.
With an Afterword by Peter Harness
With an Afterword by Peter Harness
208 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson
6,826 books6,938 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 17, 2024
Yet another modern classic I’ve just now read. But somewhere here on Goodreads is the sentence: “It’s never too late to read the classics.
September 3, 2020
I'm going through and correcting the editions of the books I have, and with the classics its becoming quite interesting to discover how many incarnations there are!
For example, this particular edition contains several stories (only three of which I actually read, including the titular story) whereas I've had it sitting on my shelf as just the single story.
I read this one a fair while ago, and was surprised that it was only a short story! It ended up being a little disappointing - I've seen so many wonderfully exciting interpretations of the story (my fave is his appearance in Van Helsing) that this original story was a bit underwhelming.
It actually really dragged for me and rather than an exciting mad-scientist type novel it was more subtle and I think I kind of got a bit lost in the language.
I'd like to go back and re-read it at some stage, as I have a much more philosophical mindset these days so I'm far more likely to appreciate the theme of duality. However at the time I must say that pop culture built it up too much for me so that it was generally underwhelming.
Still, an easy classic to tick off the list.
For example, this particular edition contains several stories (only three of which I actually read, including the titular story) whereas I've had it sitting on my shelf as just the single story.
I read this one a fair while ago, and was surprised that it was only a short story! It ended up being a little disappointing - I've seen so many wonderfully exciting interpretations of the story (my fave is his appearance in Van Helsing) that this original story was a bit underwhelming.
It actually really dragged for me and rather than an exciting mad-scientist type novel it was more subtle and I think I kind of got a bit lost in the language.
I'd like to go back and re-read it at some stage, as I have a much more philosophical mindset these days so I'm far more likely to appreciate the theme of duality. However at the time I must say that pop culture built it up too much for me so that it was generally underwhelming.
Still, an easy classic to tick off the list.
June 17, 2017
I will write something when we get back from picking up our kitten <3
February 26, 2016
Good Story #118. Julie and Scott do not feel they should be held responsible for the content of this podcast. The salt they found not only turned everything an odd color, but also turned them into the evil Juanita and Cesar. At this point, no one is sure who said what about The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.
October 21, 2008
As I'm going to see the play Jekyll & Hyde this weekend, I felt compelled to reread the book. The first thing I was struck by was the size of the novel. I remembered it being short, but I didn't realize just how short it is. The edition I'm reading has less than a hundred pages for Jekyll & Hyde and then takes another hundred pages to present 3 of Stevenson's short stories and a brief editorial note.
Despite its short size, the writing is dense in portions. Steeped in heavy Victorian style, Stevenson's writing is thick with vivid descriptions often with fifty-cent (or more) words to stir the literary mind. The writing is also very clearly a "Gothic" novel in genre. It came during the Victorian revival of the Gothic at the end of the 19th century rather than during the heyday of the late 18th century. Core gothic writing often involved aggrandized locations in creepy disrepair such as crumbling castles or manors. There was often the idea of the supernatural either in terms of ghosts and spirits or the taboo of the occult, witchcraft and even the presence of the devil himself.
Stevenson is using a lot of the themes from the Gothic tradition while also keeping things at a high enough level to allow the "terror" to exist primarily within the reader both while reading and, perhaps worse still, after reading as the reader explore his or her own mind.
In our modern day, it's hard to approach Jekyll & Hyde without some knowledge of the tale. As such, a large sense of the suspense and mystery is likely lost on modern day readers. I'll try not to put any explicit spoilers here in case a truly fresh reader is out there, but let's just say that the ending wasn't a terrific surprise to me. And yet, the novel was fulfilling in terms of what it set out to accomplish.
The pacing of the novel was slow and sometimes tedious. Rather than following closely alongside Dr. Jekyll and/or Mr. Hyde, the reader is aligned with Jekyll's lawyer, Mr. Utterson. Utterson is dismayed at some of the choices and behaviors of his friend, the good doctor, and so he plays "Mr. Seek" to try and uncover the mystery surrounding "Mr. Hyde."
The revelations as they come are well presented and have some shock value even with all the cultural weight already surrounding the book. One element I had forgotten which was especially striking when compared with versions of Jekyll/Hyde I've seen recently...is that Mr. Hyde is actually smaller than Dr. Jekyll.
That concept is a small nuance that points this book out as a creation not only for enjoyment of a suspenseful and creepy story...but also as a platform for exploring the duality of human nature and our propensity to feel guilty for the evil within us while at the same time being intrigued by it. My interpretation of Hyde's small size was different from that in the book in that I viewed him as a sort of cowering and ashamed person. While potentially accurate, in hindsight it's not entirely true since he is portrayed as pure evil and hence he wouldn't likely be shrunken and cowered since his own bravado and pride cause him to be built up by the evil within him. Jekyll's explanation for his size (due to repressed evil) seems more likely, but still left something to be desired.
An interesting note I thought of and that was further explored in the editor's note, is that while Hyde is portrayed as wholly evil, Jekyll is not in fact 'wholly good.' Jekyll has the propensity for evil within him. In fact, it's that desire to do evil that causes him to undergo the experiments in the first place. So this isn't entirely a 'good versus evil' debate, but rather more of a debate that 'everyone contains evil within, it's just a matter of whether we let it out or not.'
A thought provoking read with fun themes and excellent Victorian writing. If you're looking for a great horror novel or an intense thriller, you'll likely be unsatisfied. But if you look to this book for what it is and what it was in its time, you'll likely enjoy it.
****
3 1/2 stars
Despite its short size, the writing is dense in portions. Steeped in heavy Victorian style, Stevenson's writing is thick with vivid descriptions often with fifty-cent (or more) words to stir the literary mind. The writing is also very clearly a "Gothic" novel in genre. It came during the Victorian revival of the Gothic at the end of the 19th century rather than during the heyday of the late 18th century. Core gothic writing often involved aggrandized locations in creepy disrepair such as crumbling castles or manors. There was often the idea of the supernatural either in terms of ghosts and spirits or the taboo of the occult, witchcraft and even the presence of the devil himself.
Stevenson is using a lot of the themes from the Gothic tradition while also keeping things at a high enough level to allow the "terror" to exist primarily within the reader both while reading and, perhaps worse still, after reading as the reader explore his or her own mind.
In our modern day, it's hard to approach Jekyll & Hyde without some knowledge of the tale. As such, a large sense of the suspense and mystery is likely lost on modern day readers. I'll try not to put any explicit spoilers here in case a truly fresh reader is out there, but let's just say that the ending wasn't a terrific surprise to me. And yet, the novel was fulfilling in terms of what it set out to accomplish.
The pacing of the novel was slow and sometimes tedious. Rather than following closely alongside Dr. Jekyll and/or Mr. Hyde, the reader is aligned with Jekyll's lawyer, Mr. Utterson. Utterson is dismayed at some of the choices and behaviors of his friend, the good doctor, and so he plays "Mr. Seek" to try and uncover the mystery surrounding "Mr. Hyde."
The revelations as they come are well presented and have some shock value even with all the cultural weight already surrounding the book. One element I had forgotten which was especially striking when compared with versions of Jekyll/Hyde I've seen recently...is that Mr. Hyde is actually smaller than Dr. Jekyll.
That concept is a small nuance that points this book out as a creation not only for enjoyment of a suspenseful and creepy story...but also as a platform for exploring the duality of human nature and our propensity to feel guilty for the evil within us while at the same time being intrigued by it. My interpretation of Hyde's small size was different from that in the book in that I viewed him as a sort of cowering and ashamed person. While potentially accurate, in hindsight it's not entirely true since he is portrayed as pure evil and hence he wouldn't likely be shrunken and cowered since his own bravado and pride cause him to be built up by the evil within him. Jekyll's explanation for his size (due to repressed evil) seems more likely, but still left something to be desired.
An interesting note I thought of and that was further explored in the editor's note, is that while Hyde is portrayed as wholly evil, Jekyll is not in fact 'wholly good.' Jekyll has the propensity for evil within him. In fact, it's that desire to do evil that causes him to undergo the experiments in the first place. So this isn't entirely a 'good versus evil' debate, but rather more of a debate that 'everyone contains evil within, it's just a matter of whether we let it out or not.'
A thought provoking read with fun themes and excellent Victorian writing. If you're looking for a great horror novel or an intense thriller, you'll likely be unsatisfied. But if you look to this book for what it is and what it was in its time, you'll likely enjoy it.
****
3 1/2 stars
September 27, 2023
9/27/23 - I have NO idea why this book is showing up in my recents feed. The last time I read it was in 2021 and I did NOT make any changes/edits to it until just now because it's showing as a recent read it my feed. All I can figure is that Amazon's most recent update to the app really messed things up. 🤨🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Re-read for The Literary Life Podcast and Facebook group (so now I can can listen to the episodes about it).
9/9/2021 * 4 stars
I first read this story about 15 years ago for a book club we were in and remember bein surprised by the ending. This time I listened to the audio book, mostly because I can't find my old paperback copy, and have to say I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the first time.
Re-read for The Literary Life Podcast and Facebook group (so now I can can listen to the episodes about it).
9/9/2021 * 4 stars
I first read this story about 15 years ago for a book club we were in and remember bein surprised by the ending. This time I listened to the audio book, mostly because I can't find my old paperback copy, and have to say I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the first time.
September 29, 2014
Really great little book. At first I didn't like that I was thrown into the plot without sufficient back story, but it was a pleasure to read a book like that where I had to really think and pay attention. I'm not a big fan of horror books, and this wasn't totally one, but it still had certain aspects that were a bit horror like, though they worked well in the context of the story.
February 20, 2016
The story is told through the eyes of Mr Utterson, a lawyer. He has become worried about his friend, Henry Jekyll. It seems that a man named Mr. Hyde, who has been described as "displeasing, something downright detestable" is living at Jekyll's house. Yet despite Utterson's many attempts to approach the matter, Jekyll refuses to discuss the situation.
The story moves to the final climax where Jekyll has locked himself in his laboratory & unexplained sounds are emanating from inside. Desperate to help his friend, Utterson breaks down the door only to discover his friend has committed suicide. A letter is found explaining Jekyll's odd behavior & explaining his discovering a potion that divided the two sides of a man's character-the good from the bad-and Hyde was the evil side of Jekyll.
The story moves to the final climax where Jekyll has locked himself in his laboratory & unexplained sounds are emanating from inside. Desperate to help his friend, Utterson breaks down the door only to discover his friend has committed suicide. A letter is found explaining Jekyll's odd behavior & explaining his discovering a potion that divided the two sides of a man's character-the good from the bad-and Hyde was the evil side of Jekyll.
March 13, 2016
CONTENTS
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE
Story of the Door
Search for Mr Hyde
Dr Jekyll was Quite at Ease
The Carew Murder Case
Incident of the Letter
Remarkable Incident of Dr. Lanyon
Incident at the Window
The Last Night
Dr Lanyon's Narrative
Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case
THE BODY-SNATCHERS
MARKHEIM
OLALLA
THE SUICIDE CLUB
Story of the Young Man with the Cream Tarts
Story of the Physician and the Saratoga Trunk
The Adventure of the Hansom Cabs
'Evil, for which I live, consists not in action but in character.' - Markheim, Robert Louis Stevenson
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE
Story of the Door
Search for Mr Hyde
Dr Jekyll was Quite at Ease
The Carew Murder Case
Incident of the Letter
Remarkable Incident of Dr. Lanyon
Incident at the Window
The Last Night
Dr Lanyon's Narrative
Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case
THE BODY-SNATCHERS
MARKHEIM
OLALLA
THE SUICIDE CLUB
Story of the Young Man with the Cream Tarts
Story of the Physician and the Saratoga Trunk
The Adventure of the Hansom Cabs
'Evil, for which I live, consists not in action but in character.' - Markheim, Robert Louis Stevenson
December 6, 2015
3.5 stars
Contents:
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: pretty elusive, that one. Of course I knew what happened in the last chapter, as it is one of these spoilers that you just can't escape. But I still liked it.
The Body-Snatchers: Interesting story based off of the Burke and Hare murders.
Markheim: Boring
Olalla: Vampires? My guess. Interesting, but included soppy conversations which were annoying.
The Suicide Club: started out promising, but drawled on for too long for my tastes (which is to say something for a short story of a hundred pages)
Contents:
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: pretty elusive, that one. Of course I knew what happened in the last chapter, as it is one of these spoilers that you just can't escape. But I still liked it.
The Body-Snatchers: Interesting story based off of the Burke and Hare murders.
Markheim: Boring
Olalla: Vampires? My guess. Interesting, but included soppy conversations which were annoying.
The Suicide Club: started out promising, but drawled on for too long for my tastes (which is to say something for a short story of a hundred pages)
January 26, 2020
I read this is one night. For being from such a light hearted author, this is one of the deepest book into the struggle of man between his calling to virtue and his fallen nature. Of course, there's of a more spiritual/dualist philosophy behind them than a Christian concept of good and evil. But in my opinion, the effect on the reader is the same: fear of the evil within, fear of how it can take over if we give it ground.
April 4, 2018
I know the title story of this collection very well, since I once wrote a paper for university about it. But the other stories were a pleasant surprise, especially the Suicide Club story. It is at the same time such a very strange and such a very logical concept. I can just see the Victorians going in for that kind of thing. Still, it was nice to see a character with more modern sensibilities put a stop to it.
November 29, 2018
I ended up reading all of the short stories and giving them their own rating, and then averaging the scores to give the final score.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde-2
The Body Snatchers-3
Markheim-1
Olalla-2
The Suicide Club: Story of the Yong Man with the Cream Tarts-2
The Suicide Club: Story of the Physician and the Saratoga Trunk-2
The Adventures of the Hansom Cabs-2
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde-2
The Body Snatchers-3
Markheim-1
Olalla-2
The Suicide Club: Story of the Yong Man with the Cream Tarts-2
The Suicide Club: Story of the Physician and the Saratoga Trunk-2
The Adventures of the Hansom Cabs-2
April 30, 2011
More a group of Victorian morality tales, than horror. (but maybe this did scare the snot out of Victorians) All four of these stories had to do with human foibles - we have hubris, crime is a slippery slope (twice), and inbreeding not good. Markheim and The Body Snatchers were both scarier than Jekyll and Hyde. But all were interesting. (and a whole bunch of fun new vocabulary words!)
March 3, 2013
Had I not lived through this personally and heard the story of hundreds of others since that made it through the same journey - It might have seemed more novel (pun intended) but I did and I have. Still a classic by all rights though. The duplicitous life through chemistry...they walk among us now. God bless and save them all from themselves.
July 23, 2022
There are five stories in this edition:
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - 4 stars
The Body-Snatchers - 3 stars
Markheim - 2 stars
Olalla - 4 stars (also, ignore anyone who tells you this is a vampire story; THEY'RE CLEARLY CATS)
The Suicide Club - 4 stars
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - 4 stars
The Body-Snatchers - 3 stars
Markheim - 2 stars
Olalla - 4 stars (also, ignore anyone who tells you this is a vampire story; THEY'RE CLEARLY CATS)
The Suicide Club - 4 stars
October 3, 2009
It's to bad the basis for this story is so entwined with our literary culture. I think I would have enjoyed more had I not known about it in the first place. But it was fun to read it even though there were no surprises.
Read
February 28, 2008This is not the publisher that I own, but the date is close, its a new print.
I'd read this story originally as a child, and over again since then.
I'd read this story originally as a child, and over again since then.
February 29, 2016
Some excellent short stories mixed with some average ones. I would have given it 3.5 stars if possible.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews