Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (Tor Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Robert Louis Stevenson (Author) "MR. UTTERSON THE LAWYER WAS A MAN OF A RUGGED countenance that was never lighted by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward..." (more)
Key Phrases: laboratory door, Henry Jekyll, Edward Hyde, Sir Danvers (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The young Robert Louis Stevenson suffered from repeated nightmares of living a double life, in which by day he worked as a respectable doctor and by night he roamed the back alleys of old-town Edinburgh. In three days of furious writing, he produced a story about his dream existence. His wife found it too gruesome, so he promptly burned the manuscript. In another three days, he wrote it again. "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was published as a "shilling shocker" in 1886, and became an instant classic. In the first six months 40,000 copies were sold. Queen Victoria read it. Sermons and editorials were written about it. When Stevenson and his family visited America a year later, they were mobbed by reporters at the dock in New York City. Compulsively readable from its opening pages, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is still one of the best tales ever written about the divided self.

Product Description
Tor Classics are affordably-priced editions designed to attract the young reader. Original dynamic cover art enthusiastically represents the excitement of each story. Appropriate "reader friendly" type sizes have been chosen for each title--offering clear, accurate, and readable text. All editions are complete and unabridged, and feature Introductions and Afterwords.

This edition of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde includes an Introduction and Afterword by Charles L. Grant.

British lawyer Mr. Utterson had proof. Hyde was a foul, twisted, shrunken creature who had brutally stomped a little girl and beaten an old man to death--for no reason. Hyde left a trail of evil across London; the mere sight of him made stranger violent with fear and disgust...

But Hyde was Dr. Jekyll's sole heir.

And that made no sense at all. Henry Jekyll was the kindest, most civil, most respected man in England. What power could a monster like Hyde hold over Jekyll's soul? Utterson vowed to solve the mystery, and free his friend from Hyde's clutches...until his hunt led to a horror beyond blackmail, beyond extortion; to a secret so shocking, so sickening, so personal--That the sheer terror of the truth could drive men mad...


See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Aerie (December 15, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812504488
• ISBN-13: 978-0812504484
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #557,516 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling mystery at its best!, September 17, 1999

By A Customer

Jekyll and Hyde is a chilling psychological thriller by Robert Louis Stevenson that immediatly pulls you in and keeps you intrigued. It's almost like a love story between a man's good side and his evil side. Jekyll is a mild mannered physician with a good heart and good intentions, whereas Hyde is an evil monster with a heart of stone and intentions of committing cruel, savage, animal like murders. Dr. Henry Jekyll first turned into Hyde when he consumed a drink he made himself in his laboratory, and changes back to Jekyll with another. It all seems to be working for him...until one day when he takes an overdose of his Hyde potion and can't change back to his normal form. This book taught me that there is an untamed animal hiding inside each and every one of us just waiting to break out, like when we get angry or just go crazy. This book was terrific, and I'm sure that I will read many other Robert Louis Stevenson books.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Monster Within, October 22, 2000

By	Plume45 "kitka12345" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews

This macabre tale--inspired by a dream--starts slowly but with an ever increasing sense of mystery, culminates in a vortex of horror worthy of Poe. What evil could be more impossible to resist or to conquer than Man's inherent flaw of dualtiy? RLS describes it as the innate struggle bewteen angelic and demonic forces which lurk in every soul. Beneath the veneer of Cilivization the two extremes wage eternal war in one breast.

Mr. Utterson, a conscientious laywer in Victorian London and longtime friend of both Henry Jekyll and Dr. Lanyon, confides his misgivings about the former's will to his cousin, Mr. Enfield. During the course of the chilling novella, each of the gentlemen contributes to our knowledge of this morbidly fascinating central character, who gradually loses control of his reason or his will.

What has caused the respectable Dr. Jekyll to condone such bizarre behavior from his guest/protege/parasitecalled Mr. Hyde? Why does he endure the odious presence of a younger, shorter, vicious person--even to entrusting him with the key to his residence? This Edward Hyde emotes something bestial and unrestrained, which inspires instant fear or disgust in normal men. Quick to flair up in unprovoked anger and shocking brutality, this Hyde creature is proving a menace to society. Naturally the concerned lawyer becomes increasingly alarmed at this unexplained hold over Henry Jekyll, but can a few learned gentlemen protect him from himself or his rash devotion to a human monster? By uniting forces, can they preserve both his property, his reputation and ultimately, his life?

When an elderly MP is murdered on the street, even Jekyll seems to realize that things have gone too far, but can the now drug-dependent physician control his urge to throw off the shackles of Society? Is he himself a victim...of the arrogance of medical and scientific knowledge or of attempting to play the god of creation with unknown powers? Hollywood has offered us various excellent, chllling versions, but the Classical Faithful will want to consult the original--which is more subtle and therefore more horrible than simply presenting the tale from the viewpoint of the protagonist. The last chapter consists of Jekyll's gripping confession: how a once learned and noble man realized the only way to destroy his diabolical alter-ego...Can he yet be saved by his loyal friends? Or must he face his destiny completely alone? Beware the beast that lurks within!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Greatest Short Horror Tales of All Time!, November 25, 1999

By	Ryan Costantino (Nowhere, Special) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You can't help but love this twisted tale and it's brevity makes it all the more intense. May be a little tough going for younger readers and possibly not appropriate for anyone under the age of twelve. Richly detailed in the description of nightime London and the scenes of violence are simply astounding. A must read for anyone who understands the English language and who loves a story about the atrocities we all are capable of. Essential reading for the true, dedicated horror fan.