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Title: Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll And Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson ISBN: 0-8125-0448-8 Publisher: Aerie Pub. Date: 15 December, 1990 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $2.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.13 (23 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: There are two sides to every coin.
Comment: "I thus drew steadily nearer to that truth, by whose partial discovery I have been lead to this dreadful shipwreck: that a man is not truly one, but truly two." This book travels deep into the heart and soul of one man named Dr. Jekyll. The book will give you a full sense of personality. It not only helps you understand the characters, but it also helps you see which side, your good or your evil, is more developed. The ending will send chills up your spine. Dr. Jekyll is the basic good in the story. He has devoted his life to scientific studies and helping people. The basic villian is Edward Hyde. He is every Evil in existence put into one person. Although Dr. Jekyll is good, his curiousity drove him to unimaginable evil. He decided to explore the evil in himself. He made a potion and drank it. He changed into the horrible Edward Hyde. So you see that what separates this book from the ordinary category, is that the good and the evil exist in one.
Rating: 4
Summary: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Comment: The problem is that when one trying to find a good classic novel, very few actually exist. Most are either poorly written (for entertainment purposes at least) but exorbitantly revolutionary tales that were so successful as to no longer warrant their being read, accept for historical purposes, or poorly written philosophical discussions on human nature surrounded by an underdeveloped story of nothing. Thank god of the exceptions! And as Robert Lewis Stevenson seems to be an exception in the world of classical novels, thank god for Robert Lewis Stevenson! Stevenson not only wrote a classic, he was able to reproduce the feat many times over, something that most other authors of classics completely failed to do. Beyond Frankenstein what else did Mary Shelley write? Bram Stoker? Anything? But how often have you heard the names of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or the titles: the Body-snatcher, and Treasure Island? The familiarity of his name, if not the names of his characters, should serve as an indication of his brilliance. The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is perhaps not his best work, but it is most certainly Stevenson's most well known. The tale resembles other 'horror' stories in the fact that it is not in fact horrible; rather it is an examination of the human psyche as are most romance era novels. This examination takes place in Victorian England, but the success of the story lies in the truth that the details are of no importance. The setting happens to be this because that is when Stevenson was writing, but the theme of the novel is so timeless that dating of it is impossible. This fact alone makes the novel that much better. This is not a book so tied to the time it was conceived in, or to the issue it was written about, that forcing one's self to struggle through it is a pointless exercise in masochism, as is the case with many classics. Rather, the theme itself is such that its timelessness has overwhelmed the story, and created a true, and extremely interesting, classic. The tale of Jekyll and Hyde follows the well-respected lawyer, Mr. Utterson, is his search into what has happened to his longtime friend Dr. Henry Jekyll. His search leads him to discover a mysterious connection between Jekyll and a previously unknown Mr. Edward Hyde. His concern for the association between Jekyll and Hyde, who becomes a known tyrant in the short time that society knows of him, leads Utterson into the web of knowledge and darkness that has pervaded poor Jekyll's soul. However, when the actual circumstances of Jekyll and Hyde's association have been revealed to Utterson, it posses more problems than solutions. However, throughout the story the theme is evident; rather than forcing the story to be put on hold and talking about trees, Stevenson is able to express his philosophical discussions while using the story as more than an example. That, combined with the excellence of his writing, creates a story so engrossing that setting the book down and returning to reality is rather disappointing, instead of a blessing as with many classics. The novel's many advantages for schoolwork, and personal reflection, if one is into that sort of thing, include (but are not limited to) the physical writing being simple enough that the average glass of water could understand the story. While this is nice for those people who haven't read a book since fourth grade, the exploration of sadism and duality in man is a priceless opportunity for those in advanced classes, or those in a mood to question society, to do some analysis. I say this because the theme is so timeless, so well written, so blatantly obvious (always a plus), that it just begs of the sort of over analysis that good English teachers so adore. Also, being only eighty-one pages long, it turns out to be an extremely good choice for English assignments for slackers, especially slackers who want good grades. But not to sell the novel short, it is an incredible story. One that so frightened the author's wife that he burned the original copy before it was ever published. The only reason that the current copy is around now, is that years later Stevenson rewrote the entire story . Hallelujah! The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an excellent book. Now get rid of this rubbish and buy it.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Monster Within
Comment: 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!
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Title: Dracula by Bram Stoker, Leonard Wolf ISBN: 0451523377 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: October, 1997 List Price(USD): $4.95 |
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Title: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne ISBN: 0812550927 Publisher: Tor Classics Pub. Date: 15 October, 1995 List Price(USD): $3.99 |
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Title: Wuthering Heights by EMILY BRONTE ISBN: 0553212583 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 October, 1983 List Price(USD): $4.95 |
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Title: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley ISBN: 0553212478 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 May, 1984 List Price(USD): $4.95 |
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Title: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ISBN: 0553213105 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 December, 1983 List Price(USD): $4.95 |
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