The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Rating:
Summary: Psychology in Jekyll and Hyde
Review: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde challenges the strict social classes of the Victorian era and explores the duality of human nature. Reputation is a prevalent theme in this horror story from a different generation. Readers are taken on an adventure through the eyes of Mr. Utterson as he tries to discover the connection between the prestigious Dr. Jekyll and the curious Mr. Hyde.

Because of the language during the Victorian period, readers of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tend to be of a more mature audience. The language used in the book is not hard to understand for the more advanced readers. The book appeals to many audiences because those who have not read it know the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Movies and other books have been based on this novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. Though people of different ages may want to read the book, it is best for more advanced readers.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is appealing because of its many different objectives. For those who wish to learn of a different era, namely the Victorian period, this book is perfect. It shows the way reputation was exalted during that time. For those interested in horror stories, this book will appeal to them. If you are interested in the duality of human nature and other psychological type things, this book will interest you. For someone who just wants a good read this book is also a good choice. This book is a classic because of its appeal to many types of people. Even young children know the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Before reading the book, I knew the basic meaning behind it.

I would recommend this book to anyone that has at least a high school reading level. For those younger, the books language may become a bit confusing and cause the overall story to be lost. The meanings behind the book may be hard to catch at the first glance. For those who wish to look deeper at the meaning of Stevenson's words, this book is perfect. Even if the reader doesn't want to read between the lines, the basic horror story in this book is entertaining enough.

I would give this book a rating of 4 stars. It is interesting and informative. At times the book because a little boring because of the in depth information and the stiff language. There is little action in the book and the ending is a bit different than other books, but over all it is an interesting story and a good read.

Rating:
Summary: beautiful edition of classic story
Review: The University of Nebraska Press edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is beautiful! The illustrations by Barry Moser, woodcuts that progress chronologically through Dr. Jekyll's life as it is described in hints throughout Robert Louis Stevenson's story, are atmospheric and evocative; a picture of a boy being guided by his father, for example, echoes Dr. Jekyll's comments that he has a "fatherly" interest in his alter-ego, Hyde, while Hyde has a son's "indifference" to the father; the cover illustration is a portrait of Dr. Jekyll's father destroyed by Mr. Hyde on a rampage.

Joyce Carol Oates's introduction is worthwhile, especially for those readers who know the story, as most English-speaking people do, in its basic framework, but who have not yet actually traveled the dark road with Dr. Jekyll and his friends.

It is a pleasure to read a classic book in such a carefully crafted edition. Too often books such as this are printed in cheap editions with narrow margins and lousy type; this one fits comfortably in the hand and is easy on the eye as the reader is drawn into this allegorical nightmare.

This review refers to the University of Nebraska Press edition only.

Rating:
Summary: Short - and an absolute classic
Review: This book is less of a gripping story and more of a thought-provoking read. Stevenson could have written a much longer story following Jekyll and Hyde, a story that was more interesting and with more action. But what he did, was left it short, but gave the reader plenty to think about. What happens if we get rid of all inhibitions? Is there a monster inside of each of us trying to get out for a while?

Stevenson created a short story that everyone should read. He creates a mystery and waits until the end to explain exactly what has been happening. Even if you know the main idea behind Jekyll and Hyde from TV or movies, read the book. The story is unique, dark, and mysterious.