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Loading... Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories (edition 1979)by Robert Louis Stevenson, Jenni Calder (Editor)
Work InformationDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. I got this book to re-read "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" before seeing a theatre adaptation (which I was very glad that I did); the other two stories were a bonus of sorts. I enjoyed reading the second story - "Markheim" - as it reminded me of Edgar Allan Poe's "A Telltale Heart," especially before the visitor arrives. The third story - "The Merry Men" - was less enjoyable and felt out of place with the other stories. ( ) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a great read! Much to my surprise. I appreciate the narration by the third party because the parts told by Jekyll fall wholly into the "19th century dudes whine about problems of their own weakness" that annoyed me so much about Frankenstein. But as someone who has only experienced this story through cultural references, I was blown away by its depth - this isn't about a marauding monster; it's about morality and the nature of good, evil, and our ability to choose our own character. Other stories include: "The Body Snatcher." The forward really talked up the horror of this story but it was not really so horrific; chalk it up to evolving standards perhaps. I did not find this story very interesting. "Markheim." A hint of Poe, in that there is a feel of a man trapped inside his own head, but like "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" this is another tale of morality. How do you know if you are worth redeeming, and how are you redeemed? Ask Markheim. "The Bottle Imp." Another story involving salvation. This is less an exploration of humanity's dual nature and more of a true yarn, that serves merely to entertain. The moral, though, is clear: be virtuous and you will be rewarded in the end. Great novel, an interesting study of the darker side of human beings. Different from what I'd expected, the popular notions about dr Jekyll and mr Hyde don't quite fit with the novel itself, which is far more subdued and philosophical, and less of a cheap horror story. The other stories in the book (the ebb-tide and the beach of falesa) were also good stories, but don't speak to the imagination the way Jekyll and Hyde does (at least, not for me). All three have a gothic feel to them, and the latter two stories a touch of Conrad's heart of darkness. Also, I thought these stories quite different from Treasure Island, which I've read before. The stories are darker in tone, thought treasure island also has the pervasive theme of good vs. evil. This is the classic horror story by Robert Louis Stevenson, and is deserving of its fame. It is truly gothic, but with its emphasis on man's competing natures, has an almost modern feel to it. Stevenson's writing is concise but descriptive and he knows his characters well. The 3 stories contained in the volume are enjoyable as well, particularly "The Bottle Imp" which has a very satisfying conclusion (it is reminiscent of O. Henry stories, though I think it predates them). no reviews | add a review
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Dr. Jekyll invented a drug that would change him into the ominous Mr. Hyde. His evil nature, however, became the stronger part of him and to his horror, he no longer needed the formula to transform his appearance. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.8Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Victorian period 1837-1900LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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