Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Rating:
Summary: The classic horror tale of the beast buried within us all
Review: "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is assured a place in the history of horror fiction because it the literary classic that represents the archetype of the werewolf (the human with the hiding inside). Along with Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's "Frankenstein" (the Thing Without a Name) and Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (the Vampire) Robert Louis Stevenson's novella is part of the gothic foundation of the modern horror story. All have in common the fact that they promise to tell a story that might best be left untold, which, of course, is exactly the sort of story we want to hear.

Given that Stevenson was writing when the genre of horror fiction was not recognized as such, it is surprising that "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is cast in the form of a mystery novel. Stevenson invites his readers to try and get ahead of the story, to put the clues together and come to the conclusion. Today it is nearly impossible to pick up this story and not know the "secret," but if you think back to the late 19th-century when this story was written you can get a sense for how Stevenson used the biases and limitations of his readers to his advantage in keeping them from what we might consider to be an obvious conclusion.

More importantly, Stevenson is writing several decades before the writings of Sigmund Freud revolutionized the whole idea of human psychology. Yet we can certainly find evidence of the conscious and subconscious mind of which Freud would write. Stevenson reinforces this metaphor with the block of buildings that divides this particular part of London, with one side representing the civilized world of a respected physician and the other side the squalor of the world inhabited by an inhuman creature who gives in to his every earthly desire. The novella also speaks to the topic of evolution, with Hyde being described as "ape-like," reinforcing the idea that our most human attributes remove us ever further from the category of mere animal.

Of the three classic horror novels, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is the most accessible. Not only because of its shorter length, but also because its evil is more realistic, even in terms of our imagination. We might be unable to reanimate the dead or to become the walking dead, but we can certainly relate to the idea of unleashing the beast buried with us. Even if we could not, we can recognize the "werewolf" in the real world in the form of serial killers who try to show a civilized face to us in public. This is not to say that the novella is simplistic, for Stevenson offers a sophisticated narrative. If this is one of those literary you have never read because you already know the story, then you should take out an evening to sit down and finally get around to reading it.

Rating:
Summary: The classic horror tale of the beast buried within us all
Review: "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is assured a place in the history of horror fiction because it the literary classic that represents the archetype of the werewolf (the human with the hiding inside). Along with Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's "Frankenstein" (the Thing Without a Name) and Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (the Vampire) Robert Louis Stevenson's novella is part of the gothic foundation of the modern horror story. All have in common the fact that they promise to tell a story that might best be left untold, which, of course, is exactly the sort of story we want to hear.

Given that Stevenson was writing when the genre of horror fiction was not recognized as such, it is surprising that "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is cast in the form of a mystery novel. Stevenson invites his readers to try and get ahead of the story, to put the clues together and come to the conclusion. Today it is nearly impossible to pick up this story and not know the "secret," but if you think back to the late 19th-century when this story was written you can get a sense for how Stevenson used the biases and limitations of his readers to his advantage in keeping them from what we might consider to be an obvious conclusion.

More importantly, Stevenson is writing several decades before the writings of Sigmund Freud revolutionized the whole idea of human psychology. Yet we can certainly find evidence of the conscious and subconscious mind of which Freud would write. Stevenson reinforces this metaphor with the block of buildings that divides this particular part of London, with one side representing the civilized world of a respected physician and the other side the squalor of the world inhabited by an inhuman creature who gives in to his every earthly desire. The novella also speaks to the topic of evolution, with Hyde being described as "ape-like," reinforcing the idea that our most human attributes remove us ever further from the category of mere animal.

Of the three classic horror novels, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is the most accessible. Not only because of its shorter length, but also because its evil is more realistic, even in terms of our imagination. We might be unable to reanimate the dead or to become the walking dead, but we can certainly relate to the idea of unleashing the beast buried with us. Even if we could not, we can recognize the "werewolf" in the real world in the form of serial killers who try to show a civilized face to us in public. This is not to say that the novella is simplistic, for Stevenson offers a sophisticated narrative. If this is one of those literary you have never read because you already know the story, then you should take out an evening to sit down and finally get around to reading it.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
Review: If you like exciting books you will love Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson! The story takes place in olden day London. Dr. Henry Jekyll is a kind and caring person. Mr. Edward Hyde is a destructive crazed lunatic! With this distructive creature on the loose no one suspects that this monster is really their loving Dr. Jekyll. It was very a exciting book I couldn't wait to turn the page. If you like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde you would also like Kidnapped also by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Rating:
Summary: Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde
Review: If you love action packed book you should read Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.It's about a kind docter named Henry Jekyll,he makes a potiont that turns him into the weirdist scareist creature. No one expects it's the kind Dr.Jekyll.This story takes place in London.I think this is the greatest book of the year, because of all the exitment and action in it. If you liked this book I think you should read kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Rating:
Summary: The unnatural story of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde
Review: IF you love action packed eciting books you should read Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This thriller made me want to turn the page every second. It takes place in a very old town in London. It is about a kind doctor named Henry Jekyll. He creates a potion that turned him into a destructive crazy person named Edward Hyde. Not one single person in the small town expects the truth, that it's Dr.Henry Jekyll. What do you think the towns people will do when they find out it's Henry? You'll have to read the rest of this fantastic,and exciting book. If you like this book I recommoned you read "Kidnapped" also by robert Louis Stevenson!

Rating:
Summary: Great edition of a classic!
Review: Once again, the Everyman hardback edition doesn't disappoint. The high quality book matches the stories inside (the edition also includes some of Stevenson's other short stories). Everybody knows the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but I'll bet if you ask around you won't find many people who have read it! Do yourself a favor and buy this book, curl up one evening and discover imagery and prose that are rarely matched today.

Rating:
Summary: Great edition of a classic!
Review: Once again, the Everyman hardback edition doesn't disappoint. The high quality book matches the stories inside (the edition also includes some of Stevenson's other short stories). Everybody knows the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but I'll bet if you ask around you won't find many people who have read it! Do yourself a favor and buy this book, curl up one evening and discover imagery and prose that are rarely matched today.

Rating:
Summary: Not a classic
Review: Please, it is exagerated to think this book is a classic, such a opinion is too restrict and reflects a readers too simple meaning of life.