Rating: 
Summary: Do You Know the True Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde??
Review: +++++
(Note: this review is for the paperback "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" published by Signet Classics in 2003.)
I have seen many movie versions of this classic. So, I made the assumption that I knew the true story. Then I read this book. Was my assumption ever wrong!!!
This particular book of less than 150 pages has five parts:
(1) Opening Pages. They include a brief biography of Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 to 1894). (Comprises 4% of the book.)
(2) Introductory Essay. This was written by the late, famous Russian author Vladimir Nabokov. (Comprises 20%.)
(3) The Actual Story. Its original title is "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1886). (Comprises 65%.)
(4) Afterword to the Story. It is written by a modern writer. (Comprises 8%.)
(5) Selected Bibliography. Outlines great works by and about R.L. Stevenson. (Comprises 3%.)
The introductory essay was an actual lecture Nabokov gave when he was associate professor at Cornell University from 1948 to 1959. It gives a thorough, detailed analysis of this "seldom read" classic.
The afterword consists of a shorter analysis of this classic by the modern writer Dan Chaon. I felt that this afterword provided valuable insight regarding the story of Jekyll and Hyde.
Chaon sums up the entire story: "The structure of ['Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'] follows a path as indirect and elusive as its multiple narrative voices. With its obliquely recorded incidents, its eyewitness accounts and sealed confessions, it resembles...a [police detective's] casebook--a collection of gathered clues, fragments, through which the clever detective may be able to...project a complete narrative. Perhaps one of the most compelling aspects of this novel [of ten chapters] is that, in fact, there's so much left here for [the reader] to fill in, so many scenes that [the reader] can only imagine. Such a structure creates fertile ground for allegory [a story with symbolic meaning] hunters, and there are indeed many convincing interpretations of this novel...The puzzle-like structure of the novel [which only has eight major male characters] creates a kind of Rorechach test, open to various interpretations." (A Rorechach test is where a person interprets inkblot designs.)
The inspiration of this short novel is said to have come from a dream (or, perhaps more accurately, a nightmare) Stevenson had. His actual writing is amazing and skillful in all chapters. The writing especially of the last two chapters, chapters nine and ten, stood out for me. Here, for example, is his actual description of what happened when somebody observed someone using Dr. Jekyll's concoction:
"He put the glass to his lips and drank at one gulp. A cry followed; he reeled, staggered, clutched at the table and held on, staring with injected eyes, gasping with open mouth; as I looked there came, I thought, a change--he seemed to swell--his face became suddenly black and the features seemed to melt and alter--and the next moment, I had sprung to my feet and leaped back against the wall, my arm raised to shield me...[and] my mind submerged in terror."
Finally, the cover of this particular book is interesting. It shows the shadow of a man in a top hat behind a window shade. This can be taken to represent Hyde who is a shadowy character.
In conclusion, this particular book has it all: an introduction by a late, well-known author, an intriguing mystery/horror story by a late, famous nineteenth century author, and an afterword by a gifted, modern writer. Be sure to read this book to learn the true story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!!!
+++++.
Rating:
Summary: Do You Know the True Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde??
Review: =====>I have seen many movie versions of this classic. So, I made the assumption that I knew the true story. Then I read this book. Was my assumption ever wrong!!! This particular book of less than 150 pages has five parts: (1) Opening Pages. They include a brief biography of Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 to 1894). (Takes up 4% of the book.)
(2) Introductory Essay. This was written by the late, famous Russian author Vladimir Nabokov. (Takes up 20%.)
(3) The Actual Story. Its original title is "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1886). (Takes up 65%.)
(4) Afterword to the Story. It is written by a modern writer. (Takes up 8%.)
(5) Selected Bibliography. Outlines great works by and about R.L. Stevenson. (Takes up 3%.) The introductory essay was an actual lecture Nabokov gave when he was associate professor at Cornell University from 1948 to 1959. It gives a thorough, detailed analysis of this "seldom read" classic. The afterword consists of a shorter analysis of this classic by the modern writer Dan Chaon. I felt that this afterword provided valuable insight regarding the story of Jekyll and Hyde. Chaon sums up the entire story: "The structure of ['Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'] follows a path as indirect and elusive as its multiple narrative voices. With its obliquely recorded incidents, its eyewitness accounts and sealed confessions, it resembles...a [police detective's] casebook--a collection of gathered clues, fragments, through which the clever detective may be able to...project a complete narrative. Perhaps one of the most compelling aspects of this novel [of ten chapters] is that, in fact, there's so much left here for [the reader] to fill in, so many scenes that [the reader] can only imagine. Such a structure creates fertile ground for allegory [a story with symbolic meaning] hunters, and there are indeed many convincing interpretations of this novel...The puzzle-like structure of the novel [which only has eight major male characters] creates a kind of Rorechach test, open to various interpretations." (A Rorechach test is where a person interprets inkblot designs.) The inspiration of this short novel is said to have come from a dream (or, perhaps more accurately, a nightmare) Stevenson had. His actual writing is amazing and skillful in all chapters. The writing especially of the last two chapters, chapters nine and ten, stood out for me. Here, for example, is his actual description of what happened when somebody observed someone using Dr. Jekyll's concoction: "He put the glass to his lips and drank at one gulp. A cry followed; he reeled, staggered, clutched at the table and held on, staring with injected eyes, gasping with open mouth; as I looked there came, I thought, a change--he seemed to swell--his face became suddenly black and the features seemed to melt and alter--and the next moment, I had sprung to my feet and leaped back against the wall, my arm raised to shield me...[and] my mind submerged in terror." Finally, the cover of this particular book is interesting. It shows the shadow of a man in a top hat behind a window shade. This can be taken to represent Hyde who is a shadowy character. In conclusion, this particular book has it all: an introduction by a late, well-known author, an intriguing mystery/horror story by a late, famous nineteenth century author, and an afterword by a gifted, modern writer. Be sure to read this book to learn the true story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!!! <=====>
Rating: 
Summary: A classic reading experience
Review: All my life I have heared and seen movies about Dracula, Frankenstein and Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde. Normally I don't read horror/ science fiction, but I was curious about these three and decided to find out how these literary characters attained such long lasting lives. The time spent reading was worth it. It was an entertaining cultural experience. I'll leave it to the experts to try to tell you why they are classics. I do not know, but if you are always short on time like I am, my preference is lisred above.
Rating: 
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a great book to read.
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a really good book. When you read this book you really have to pay close attention. I'm sure that won't be a problem. With everything that occurs in this book there's never a dull moment. I liked the idea of how Stevenson used one man, but transformed him into someone else. The mystery of finding Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is what I enjoyed. Mr. Utterson and Enfield thought there were two different people when there was only one. If your wanting to read a book that keeps you wandering and guessing, well this is the perfect book. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a great book to read.
Review: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a really good book. When you read this book you really have to pay close attention. I'm sure that won't be a problem. With everything that occurs in this book there's never a dull moment. I liked the idea of how Stevenson used one man, but transformed him into someone else. The mystery of finding Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is what I enjoyed. Mr. Utterson and Enfield thought there were two different people when there was only one. If your wanting to read a book that keeps you wandering and guessing, well this is the perfect book. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Dr. jekyll and mr hyde
Review: I think the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr hyde is a great read. it is a mixture of a mystery novel with a horror novel. it shows you both sides of every human being, the evil side and the good side. also it being a short novel is a plus.you can read this book in no time. if i had more that two thumbs i would give them all up for this novel. robert louis stevenson did an awesome job with this one . i reccomend this novel strongly.
Rating:
Summary: More of an Idea than a Story
Review: I've never read a novel or novella where there is so little of actual story as there is Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde; where there is so little done with such an amazing idea. The story consists mainly of a few rumors and incidents and annecdotes that are all tied together by the "full statement of the case" at the end, and that's it. For one thing I think this sparseness contributes to the eeriness of the story. The book reads more like a police report that a horror story, leaving Mr. Hyde to lurk almost unseen in the shadows of its pages. For another thing I think that this book has been popular through the years and passed through so many incarnations and popped up in so many different forms precisely because Stevenson did so little with Mr. Hyde. It was like he left a blueprint for other writers to come along and fully explore the ramifications of this book's intriquing premise.
Rating:
Summary: More of an Idea than a Story
Review: I've never read a novel or novella where there is so little of actual story as there is Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde; where there is so little done with such an amazing idea. The story consists mainly of a few rumors and incidents and annecdotes that are all tied together by the "full statement of the case" at the end, and that's it. For one thing I think this sparseness contributes to the eeriness of the story. The book reads more like a police report that a horror story, leaving Mr. Hyde to lurk almost unseen in the shadows of its pages. For another thing I think that this book has been popular through the years and passed through so many incarnations and popped up in so many different forms precisely because Stevenson did so little with Mr. Hyde. It was like he left a blueprint for other writers to come along and fully explore the ramifications of this book's intriquing premise.
Rating:
Summary: A great story that has been immortalized.
Review: Robert Louis Stevenson is a good storyteller, and this book is probably one of his most well-known. It has been adapted into many different forms including the big screen and television. It has mostly been adapted into movies in the horror genre, and the book is certainly leaning towards this, but it also a wonderful story of the supernatural that still manages to terrify us. It is also a great story because of Stevenson's psychological perceptions, and his strong concern for ethical problems that keeps cropping up throughout the book. The book is still a valuable piece that should be read by anyone interested in great literature.
Rating:
Summary: Jekyll and Hyde
Review: The novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was not that intersting to me. It however was great in making you think of how often a person lets their emotions get the better of them. If a person wants to read a book that gives insite of the strugle one person went through with their good and evil side then this is the book to read. However if you want a book that flows great and can be understood at first glance than you might want to think twice about this book. I recomend this book only because it is so widely known and it gives a good account of ones stugle between a person they should be and the person the would like to be.
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