Helpful Score: 3
I bet you think you know this story but you might be surprised. The original telling of this tale is quite different than what I had seen in film and television versions. A suspenseful and scary quick read that is perfect for Halloween.
Helpful Score: 2
I was curious when I found this book at a garage sale. I always wanted to know the original story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Now a days, many movies have been made and thought to represent this story, so I was curious and bought it.
I believe this book is the shortened version of the original story without all the "mumbo jumbo". Just the important facts and important story line details are included. That's one of the reasons I bought it.
Aside from the story, the book also includes an essay and an afterord about the story from other authors' point of view and their opinions. These additions are very interesting. Kind of like a "book club" meeting where all of the topics of the story are discussed and opinions are provided.
So if you're curious about the original story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, try this book out! It will answer a lot of your questions and solve a lot of myths that are planted into today's movies about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The only downfall of this book, is that some of the words and sentence structure are of the "old world style", and you sometimes have to think about what the author is really trying to say. For example, the word "ey" means "yes". That's a simple example, but you get the picture. I was able to read through it just fine. When I would get caught up a word I didn't understand it didn't matter because the sentence still made sense in the end.
I believe this book is the shortened version of the original story without all the "mumbo jumbo". Just the important facts and important story line details are included. That's one of the reasons I bought it.
Aside from the story, the book also includes an essay and an afterord about the story from other authors' point of view and their opinions. These additions are very interesting. Kind of like a "book club" meeting where all of the topics of the story are discussed and opinions are provided.
So if you're curious about the original story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, try this book out! It will answer a lot of your questions and solve a lot of myths that are planted into today's movies about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The only downfall of this book, is that some of the words and sentence structure are of the "old world style", and you sometimes have to think about what the author is really trying to say. For example, the word "ey" means "yes". That's a simple example, but you get the picture. I was able to read through it just fine. When I would get caught up a word I didn't understand it didn't matter because the sentence still made sense in the end.
Helpful Score: 2
The introduction to this book by Vladimir Nabokov gives much insight into the times in which the story is set and the story itself. In some ways the tale mirrors the author's life (read the book to discover why). The key protagonist is Dr. Henry Jekyll who has spent much of his life with fruitless research. Dr. Jekyll is now experimenting with drugs to separate admirable and evil characteristics each person has within himself. Surprisingly, he finds a drug mixture that does what he expects and he can become Mr. Hyde, a self-centered, pleasure-seeking, unlikeable and fearsome individual. As Mr. Hyde, he can revel in the baser pleasures that dwell in his heart. Eventually Mr. Hyde murders a much respected person in the community and the authorities search everywhere for the illusive killer. A part of Henry Jekyll abhors the murder and he is torn about what to do. Unfortunately, his supply of the basic drug he needs for his mixture is dwindling and he cannot find another. Furthermore, the baser personality is becoming dominant. He finds himself changing into Mr. Hyde without the drug mixture. Not only is his personality changing but his physical appearance is greatly altered. The tale is told by a friend of Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Utterson, a lawyer who wrote Jekyll's puzzling will. The story is one you should read if you are interested in classical tales. In this edition, the introduction is 34 pages in length but well worth reading. The tale itself is short.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was quite odd, but thrilling at the same time. It is easy to read, and is certainly a must.
Helpful Score: 1
Great Book.
Helpful Score: 1
Robert Louis Stevenson originally wrote this story as a "shilling shocker." He then burned the draft and, upon his wife's advice, rewrote it as the darkly complex tale it is today. Stark, skillfully woven, this fascinating novel explores the curious turnings of human character through the strange case of Dr. Jekyll, an kindly scientist who by night takes on his stunted evil self, Mr. Hyde. Anticipating modern psychology, this story is a brilliantly original study of man's dual nature - as well as an immortal tale of suspense and terror.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a brand new 2007 Audio CD. While it is an old srory it is in perfect condition!Only listen to once!
"Everything about Edward Hyde is deisusting and vile. Henry Jekyll, a reputable doctor, is the opposite. His close friend, Utterson, knows him to be warm and gnerous. Naturally, the recent relationship between jekyll and Heyde puzzles Utterson. Although the differences betweent he two men are that of night and day, Utterson discovers that Jekyll and Hyde are related in a most terrifying way"
A great way for children to be introduced to this classic tale.
Great read, lots of suspence. A classic.
A quick read -- this classic is imaginative and haunting. The readers that read this centuries ago must have been on the edge of their chairs reading it with nightmares soon to follow. DON'T MISS THIS CLASSIC!
This book amazed me because it is so unlike the many movies of the same name.
Stevenson always writes of real people and this story is no different. Jekyll and Hyde are real and the anguish they suffer is known to anyone who has gone through a severe ethical dilemma.
Throw out your old ideas about this story. Don't watch any more movies about J/H, and read this book.
Stevenson always writes of real people and this story is no different. Jekyll and Hyde are real and the anguish they suffer is known to anyone who has gone through a severe ethical dilemma.
Throw out your old ideas about this story. Don't watch any more movies about J/H, and read this book.
This is an excellent reading of a great classic and I enjoyed the audio immensely.
This story is short compared to others Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, but it is still amazing, and almost scary!
The story explores the concept of us having a âgood sideâ and âbad sideâ and shows what can happen if we allow our âbad sideâ to run away with ourselves.
The story teaches us a little moral without getting preachy or overly philosophical.
The plot itself is simple, but the character is a very deep one.
Highly Recommended Read!
The story explores the concept of us having a âgood sideâ and âbad sideâ and shows what can happen if we allow our âbad sideâ to run away with ourselves.
The story teaches us a little moral without getting preachy or overly philosophical.
The plot itself is simple, but the character is a very deep one.
Highly Recommended Read!
The Classic Edward Hyde is disgusting and vile.Henry Jekyll, a reputable doctor, is the opposite.
I originally read this classic when I was in high school back in the 1960s. Recently, I read a pastiche called Dr Jekyll and Mr Holmes by Loren D. Estleman where the author puts Sherlock Holmes in the story of Jekyll and Hyde. After reading this, I decided to reread the original by Stevenson to see how it compared and because I really didn't remember too much about the original novel. Well the Stevenson story is pretty much like the pastiche by Estleman if you eliminate Holmes and Watson from the tale. Of course most everyone knows the story of Jekyll and Hyde...a tale of dual personalities where Jekyll is able to chemically eliminate the good Dr. Jekyll and change into the evil Mr. Hyde. The story tells how Jekyll's lawyer, Utterson, is upset when he learns of his will which would leave his estate to a Mr. Hyde in the event of Jekyll disappearance. But he had heard of Hyde who had carelessly run into a young child without remorse. Then later Hyde is sought by the law when he kills a member of parliament. And later in the story, Hyde is found in Jekyll's laboratory, but what has become of Jekyll? All is revealed in a statement at the end where Jekyll describes his transformations into Hyde and his problem trying to stop transforming into him.
This classic story wasn't quite what I remembered. I think I remember the story more from the movie versions especially the 1941 version starring Spencer Tracy. Of course the movie version included a love interest and costars Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner as well as a lot of scenes of Hyde's debauchery that were not included in the novel. I guess Hollywood needed more action to sell seats to the theater! But the novel is still a classic and if I were able to read it cold without the foreknowledge of the story, I think it would have had a much harder impact.
This classic story wasn't quite what I remembered. I think I remember the story more from the movie versions especially the 1941 version starring Spencer Tracy. Of course the movie version included a love interest and costars Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner as well as a lot of scenes of Hyde's debauchery that were not included in the novel. I guess Hollywood needed more action to sell seats to the theater! But the novel is still a classic and if I were able to read it cold without the foreknowledge of the story, I think it would have had a much harder impact.
Stevenson's tale of the dark side of human nature. Starteling. Well worth while.
Justly a classic.
This is abridged. At least you will learn Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde's first names.
It's pretty short, but an oldie and a goodie. Everyone should read it a some point in their life.
a classic
