The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Horror, Literary Hardcover – July 1, 2004

I am surprised that I have not read this earlier in my life. This is a compelling account of human nature. I see encouragement here to understand the message of the NewTestament. The Apostle Paul in Romans describes this battle and shows the way to victory through faith in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. See Romans, chapters 6,7 and 8

The book was ordered for a school project. It’s a short novel so not used for too long and yet the book completely fell apart. It’s trash after a couple weeks. Disappointed in the quality of the book itself.As for the novel itself- my daughter enjoyed using it for the project assigned

Short story, nice pocket book, finish it and leave it at the coffee shop

This quaint little novella was written over 100 years ago, and it shows in several ways. The understanding of science is barely past alchemy. And for some reason, writers of the time felt the need for framing stories (two guys are walking down the street smoking; one turns to the other and tells what happened). They don't make 'em like they used to, and that's a good thing.The book reads like an old-fashioned morality play, and it helps to think about the context in which it was written. Christianity dominated the culture, and a certain set of ideas were held in common. With that in mind, it's easy to see that Jekyll and Hyde are the spirit and the flesh. What's the moral? "Be sure your sins will find you out." Jekyll finds a way to separate the evil and good parts of his nature, allowing him to indulge the evil side without harming the good. Unfortunately, the evil side grows stronger while the change-back potion runs out, and no more can be created.

Stevenson published this famous novella in the late 19th Century. Since then, there have been more than one hundred film adaptations of the basic Jekyll and Hyde story. I've seen two of the most widely known: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1931 with Frederic March, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1941 with Spencer Tracy. However, I'd never read the source material by Stevenson.That changed when Jekyll/Hyde appeared on one of the many email notices of special book deals that I receive. What caught my was the e-book version for my Kindle was on sale for $0.68. Yep, only sixty-eight cents.Since I'd watched two movie versions, I thought I knew the story, but I know enough about literature and screenplays to know that what appears on film is often not what the author first wrote. Sometimes circumstances and sequences are changed, parts and aspects omitted, or sometimes added. For sixty-eight cents, how could I not buy and read it.Wow. I'm glad I did. While it's true that Stevenson's literary style is quite dated, one might even say over-written and wordy, the entire approach to the story was simultaneously the same and quite different. Much of the screenplay had been added to the underlying story to make it more interesting for moviegoers. I won't disclose all of the differences, as I'll leave that for you to discover.Suffice it to say that while the Stevenson novella left out a LOT of what was included on film, it did NOT distract from the story or my enjoyment in reading it. So, get your copy, in print or digital, settle down in a comfy chair and enjoy. You won't be sorry.

This tale begged one to debate if one might be born evil. Still, it seemed to me it’s a matter of choice, and not born. Dr. Jekyll decided to experiment on himself so he could experience the thrill of and losing himself in cruelty and impulses. Personally I can’t imagine how one can derive thrill in fellow humans’ misery and suffering. My impression is that at the end goodness shall prevail and hence the killing of Hyde and Jekyll himself.

What I like about Victorian novels is that there is a clear distinction of right from wrong, and stories focus on how one can fall victim to their “evil” side. This book is beautifully written with an ending that will question you how far one can lean into their evilness without being fully immersed into it.

My second reading of this nocella reminds me of its brilliance. Once again, the pages turned themselves and I was transported into the worlds of both personalities. A timeless masterwork.