Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Cassette)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I have yet to read a book so weird and yet so fascinating... This book delves deeply into the human nature and the demon lurking inside, ready to spring to life. Wonderfully and absorbingly written!

Rating:
Summary: Good, but a little disappointing
Review: I thought that Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was rather a dull book. It didn't have any lowpoints or strainings of any sort but rather, too much a monotonous tone that is just not quite right. I think that maybe I was expecting a little too much, but still I thought it wasn't as good as I was told. It was well written, the style was OK, the problem was the way the story was built. The idea of someone changing his physical appearance is a good one, but I think it should have gone a little deeper in the minds of the person that experiences it. Instead the other chose to show us a friend of that person, and, for me, it lost most of it's interest. I would have liked to be with Dr Jekyll as he drank his potion to "see" how it happened and all.

It's not a bad book, it's just not a great book either. A good book that doesn't have everything it takes to become a great book.

Rating:
Summary: The Most Chilling Tale of Addiction Ever Written
Review: Sometimes the man who does it first does it best, and in Stevenson's case I think that's true. Anyone who's ever known or been an addict will find The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde terrifyingly familiar. Stephen King called this the archetypal werewolf novel, but that description only scratches the surface. Read this book. Then look closely in the mirror, if you dare.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Review: The problem is that when one trying to find a good classic novel, very few actually exist. Most are either poorly written (for entertainment purposes at least) but exorbitantly revolutionary tales that were so successful as to no longer warrant their being read, accept for historical purposes, or poorly written philosophical discussions on human nature surrounded by an underdeveloped story of nothing. Thank god of the exceptions! And as Robert Lewis Stevenson seems to be an exception in the world of classical novels, thank god for Robert Lewis Stevenson! Stevenson not only wrote a classic, he was able to reproduce the feat many times over, something that most other authors of classics completely failed to do. Beyond Frankenstein what else did Mary Shelley write? Bram Stoker? Anything? But how often have you heard the names of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or the titles: the Body-snatcher, and Treasure Island? The familiarity of his name, if not the names of his characters, should serve as an indication of his brilliance. The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is perhaps not his best work, but it is most certainly Stevenson's most well known. The tale resembles other 'horror' stories in the fact that it is not in fact horrible; rather it is an examination of the human psyche as are most romance era novels. This examination takes place in Victorian England, but the success of the story lies in the truth that the details are of no importance. The setting happens to be this because that is when Stevenson was writing, but the theme of the novel is so timeless that dating of it is impossible. This fact alone makes the novel that much better. This is not a book so tied to the time it was conceived in, or to the issue it was written about, that forcing one's self to struggle through it is a pointless exercise in masochism, as is the case with many classics. Rather, the theme itself is such that its timelessness has overwhelmed the story, and created a true, and extremely interesting, classic. The tale of Jekyll and Hyde follows the well-respected lawyer, Mr. Utterson, is his search into what has happened to his longtime friend Dr. Henry Jekyll. His search leads him to discover a mysterious connection between Jekyll and a previously unknown Mr. Edward Hyde. His concern for the association between Jekyll and Hyde, who becomes a known tyrant in the short time that society knows of him, leads Utterson into the web of knowledge and darkness that has pervaded poor Jekyll's soul. However, when the actual circumstances of Jekyll and Hyde's association have been revealed to Utterson, it posses more problems than solutions. However, throughout the story the theme is evident; rather than forcing the story to be put on hold and talking about trees, Stevenson is able to express his philosophical discussions while using the story as more than an example. That, combined with the excellence of his writing, creates a story so engrossing that setting the book down and returning to reality is rather disappointing, instead of a blessing as with many classics. The novel's many advantages for schoolwork, and personal reflection, if one is into that sort of thing, include (but are not limited to) the physical writing being simple enough that the average glass of water could understand the story. While this is nice for those people who haven't read a book since fourth grade, the exploration of sadism and duality in man is a priceless opportunity for those in advanced classes, or those in a mood to question society, to do some analysis. I say this because the theme is so timeless, so well written, so blatantly obvious (always a plus), that it just begs of the sort of over analysis that good English teachers so adore. Also, being only eighty-one pages long, it turns out to be an extremely good choice for English assignments for slackers, especially slackers who want good grades. But not to sell the novel short, it is an incredible story. One that so frightened the author's wife that he burned the original copy before it was ever published. The only reason that the current copy is around now, is that years later Stevenson rewrote the entire story . Hallelujah! The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an excellent book. Now get rid of this rubbish and buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Review: The problem is that when one trying to find a good classic novel, very few actually exist. Most are either poorly written (for entertainment purposes at least) but exorbitantly revolutionary tales that were so successful as to no longer warrant their being read, accept for historical purposes, or poorly written philosophical discussions on human nature surrounded by an underdeveloped story of nothing. Thank god of the exceptions! And as Robert Lewis Stevenson seems to be an exception in the world of classical novels, thank god for Robert Lewis Stevenson! Stevenson not only wrote a classic, he was able to reproduce the feat many times over, something that most other authors of classics completely failed to do. Beyond Frankenstein what else did Mary Shelley write? Bram Stoker? Anything? But how often have you heard the names of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or the titles: the Body-snatcher, and Treasure Island? The familiarity of his name, if not the names of his characters, should serve as an indication of his brilliance. The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is perhaps not his best work, but it is most certainly Stevenson's most well known. The tale resembles other 'horror' stories in the fact that it is not in fact horrible; rather it is an examination of the human psyche as are most romance era novels. This examination takes place in Victorian England, but the success of the story lies in the truth that the details are of no importance. The setting happens to be this because that is when Stevenson was writing, but the theme of the novel is so timeless that dating of it is impossible. This fact alone makes the novel that much better. This is not a book so tied to the time it was conceived in, or to the issue it was written about, that forcing one's self to struggle through it is a pointless exercise in masochism, as is the case with many classics. Rather, the theme itself is such that its timelessness has overwhelmed the story, and created a true, and extremely interesting, classic. The tale of Jekyll and Hyde follows the well-respected lawyer, Mr. Utterson, is his search into what has happened to his longtime friend Dr. Henry Jekyll. His search leads him to discover a mysterious connection between Jekyll and a previously unknown Mr. Edward Hyde. His concern for the association between Jekyll and Hyde, who becomes a known tyrant in the short time that society knows of him, leads Utterson into the web of knowledge and darkness that has pervaded poor Jekyll's soul. However, when the actual circumstances of Jekyll and Hyde's association have been revealed to Utterson, it posses more problems than solutions. However, throughout the story the theme is evident; rather than forcing the story to be put on hold and talking about trees, Stevenson is able to express his philosophical discussions while using the story as more than an example. That, combined with the excellence of his writing, creates a story so engrossing that setting the book down and returning to reality is rather disappointing, instead of a blessing as with many classics. The novel's many advantages for schoolwork, and personal reflection, if one is into that sort of thing, include (but are not limited to) the physical writing being simple enough that the average glass of water could understand the story. While this is nice for those people who haven't read a book since fourth grade, the exploration of sadism and duality in man is a priceless opportunity for those in advanced classes, or those in a mood to question society, to do some analysis. I say this because the theme is so timeless, so well written, so blatantly obvious (always a plus), that it just begs of the sort of over analysis that good English teachers so adore. Also, being only eighty-one pages long, it turns out to be an extremely good choice for English assignments for slackers, especially slackers who want good grades. But not to sell the novel short, it is an incredible story. One that so frightened the author's wife that he burned the original copy before it was ever published. The only reason that the current copy is around now, is that years later Stevenson rewrote the entire story . Hallelujah! The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an excellent book. Now get rid of this rubbish and buy it.

Rating:
Summary: umm....come again?
Review: This book had a good theme and all, but I couldn't understand much of what it said. It was only because the story is so well known that I could even write a book report on it. Some parts were more clear than others but for the most part it was really confusing.

Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile Horror Classic
Review: This is one of the major horror classics, and any true horror fans should read it at some point. It is a very short work--I was able to finish it in three hours. The one thing people have difficulty with is that it is written in an older form of English; so yes, you do have to have some inteligence and understanding of the English language to comprehend everything in the story. It is a strong tale with a powerful moral (though not overdone and preachy), and truly terrifying in its implications. Can't give too much away without sumarazing the entire story (it is short), but most everybody knows the basics of the legent; If for nothing else, read it to see what originated the whole Jekyll and Hyde myth.

Rating:
Summary: The Monster Within
Review: This macabre tale--inspired by a dream--starts slowly but with an ever increasing sense of mystery, culminates in a vortex of horror worthy of Poe. What evil could be more impossible to resist or to conquer than Man's inherent flaw of dualtiy? RLS describes it as the innate struggle bewteen angelic and demonic forces which lurk in every soul. Beneath the veneer of Cilivization the two extremes wage eternal war in one breast.

Mr. Utterson, a conscientious laywer in Victorian London and longtime friend of both Henry Jekyll and Dr. Lanyon, confides his misgivings about the former's will to his cousin, Mr. Enfield. During the course of the chilling novella, each of the gentlemen contributes to our knowledge of this morbidly fascinating central character, who gradually loses control of his reason or his will.

What has caused the respectable Dr. Jekyll to condone such bizarre behavior from his guest/protege/parasitecalled Mr. Hyde? Why does he endure the odious presence of a younger, shorter, vicious person--even to entrusting him with the key to his residence? This Edward Hyde emotes something bestial and unrestrained, which inspires instant fear or disgust in normal men. Quick to flair up in unprovoked anger and shocking brutality, this Hyde creature is proving a menace to society. Naturally the concerned lawyer becomes increasingly alarmed at this unexplained hold over Henry Jekyll, but can a few learned gentlemen protect him from himself or his rash devotion to a human monster? By uniting forces, can they preserve both his property, his reputation and ultimately, his life?

When an elderly MP is murdered on the street, even Jekyll seems to realize that things have gone too far, but can the now drug-dependent physician control his urge to throw off the shackles of Society? Is he himself a victim...of the arrogance of medical and scientific knowledge or of attempting to play the god of creation with unknown powers? Hollywood has offered us various excellent, chllling versions, but the Classical Faithful will want to consult the original--which is more subtle and therefore more horrible than simply presenting the tale from the viewpoint of the protagonist. The last chapter consists of Jekyll's gripping confession: how a once learned and noble man realized the only way to destroy his diabolical alter-ego...Can he yet be saved by his loyal friends? Or must he face his destiny completely alone? Beware the beast that lurks within!

Rating:
Summary: The Monster Within
Review: This macabre tale--inspired by a dream--starts slowly but with an ever increasing sense of mystery, culminates in a vortex of horror worthy of Poe. What evil could be more impossible to resist or to conquer than Man's inherent flaw of dualtiy? RLS describes it as the innate struggle bewteen angelic and demonic forces which lurk in every soul. Beneath the veneer of Cilivization the two extremes wage eternal war in one breast.

Mr. Utterson, a conscientious laywer in Victorian London and longtime friend of both Henry Jekyll and Dr. Lanyon, confides his misgivings about the former's will to his cousin, Mr. Enfield. During the course of the chilling novella, each of the gentlemen contributes to our knowledge of this morbidly fascinating central character, who gradually loses control of his reason or his will.

What has caused the respectable Dr. Jekyll to condone such bizarre behavior from his guest/protege/parasitecalled Mr. Hyde? Why does he endure the odious presence of a younger, shorter, vicious person--even to entrusting him with the key to his residence? This Edward Hyde emotes something bestial and unrestrained, which inspires instant fear or disgust in normal men. Quick to flair up in unprovoked anger and shocking brutality, this Hyde creature is proving a menace to society. Naturally the concerned lawyer becomes increasingly alarmed at this unexplained hold over Henry Jekyll, but can a few learned gentlemen protect him from himself or his rash devotion to a human monster? By uniting forces, can they preserve both his property, his reputation and ultimately, his life?

When an elderly MP is murdered on the street, even Jekyll seems to realize that things have gone too far, but can the now drug-dependent physician control his urge to throw off the shackles of Society? Is he himself a victim...of the arrogance of medical and scientific knowledge or of attempting to play the god of creation with unknown powers? Hollywood has offered us various excellent, chllling versions, but the Classical Faithful will want to consult the original--which is more subtle and therefore more horrible than simply presenting the tale from the viewpoint of the protagonist. The last chapter consists of Jekyll's gripping confession: how a once learned and noble man realized the only way to destroy his diabolical alter-ego...Can he yet be saved by his loyal friends? Or must he face his destiny completely alone? Beware the beast that lurks within!

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Short Horror Tales of All Time!
Review: You can't help but love this twisted tale and it's brevity makes it all the more intense. May be a little tough going for younger readers and possibly not appropriate for anyone under the age of twelve. Richly detailed in the description of nightime London and the scenes of violence are simply astounding. A must read for anyone who understands the English language and who loves a story about the atrocities we all are capable of. Essential reading for the true, dedicated horror fan.