The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Publisher: Top Five Books (2014)

96 pages, eBook (Purchased Myself for $0.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Ratings:

Violence: Mild-Moderate-Brutal

Swearing: Clean-Light-Filthy

Sexual Content: White-Pink-Red

Summary:

The strange association of upstanding citizen Dr. Jekyll with the villainous Mr. Hyde is a source of surprise and mystery to those who know Dr. Jekyll, but his lawyer, Mr. Utterson, is determined to get to the bottom of things.

My Thoughts:

This story is kind of a gothic mystery, in that it has an ominous feel to it, and though Mr. Hyde is described by all who’ve met him as a horrid, devilish sort of person, no one seems able to ever explain in detail what sort of horridness he is involved in or in what way particularly he is offensive, except a general evil aura and a brief scene in which he “trods” on a young girl in the street. In any event, Hyde is generally bad and Jekyll is widely known to be good, so Hyde’s constant visits to Jekyll’s house are a quandary for Jekyll’s legal counsel and good friend. The drug dependence and the idea of isolating particular parts of one’s personality in order for other parts to better be able to cope, I thought were interesting elements. Strange and entertaining little story.

Edition Notes:

This Illustrated Top Five Classics ebook edition is prettily arranged with easy maneuverability throughout the text. This edition also includes an Introduction with some background information on the story, illustrations by Charles Raymond Macauley are included (I loved the illustrations!), and a bit of background on the author is included at the end of the text. Great edition for a great price!

Quotes:

“I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.” -Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

“You start a question, and it’s like starting a stone. You sit quietly on the top of a hill; and away the stone goes, starting others; and presently some bland old bird—the last you would have thought of—is knocked on the head in his own back garden and the family have to change their name. No sir, I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask.” -Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

“—the unjust might go his way, delivered from the aspirations and remorse of his more upright twin; and the just could walk steadfastly and securely on his upward path, doing the good things in which he found his pleasure, and no longer exposed to disgrace and penitence by the hands of this extraneous evil.” -Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde