Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "jekyll-and-hyde"

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Other Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A classic tale of gothic horror and moral introspection.

Lawyer Mr. Utterson’s attention is drawn to the disreputable deeds of one Mr. Edward Hyde, whose behaviour is increasingly causing strife amongst London residents.

Utterson is deeply troubled by Hyde’s association with his client, Dr. Henry Jekyll, but Jekyll assures him he has no cause for alarm.

But when Hyde commits a brutal murder, Utterson is determined to aid his client escape this vile character. But the secret of Jekyll and Hyde is beyond any horror he could have imagined.

'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886, is a tale of gothic horror, blended with mystery and dashes of detective and science fiction, seasoned with folkloric and religious undertones and a touch of moral and political allegory. We witness events through the experience of Utterson - his increasing concerns regarding his client Henry Jekyll's association with Edward Hyde and his succeeding determination to help his friend and thwart the schemes of the fiend, descending into a revelation of body horror that pushes the boundaries of both science and faith and our perceptions of good and evil.

Exploring themes such as the duality of human nature; the concept of a higher and lower self, with morality and civility juxtaposed with our basic instincts; the masks we wear in public versus our private selves; and substance misuse, Stevenson delivers a perfectly realised tale – compelling and vividly told, steeped in atmosphere and suspense, its conclusion both thought-provoking and chilling. 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' was one of the earliest gothic horror tales I became acquainted with and remains one of my favourites. Along with 'Dracula, 'Frankenstein' and 'The Mummy', it cemented my love of horror fiction, and is one I often enjoy revisiting in one form or another, as well as finding inspiration from it in my own writing.

Inspiration for the story reportedly came to Stevenson in a dream whilst suffering ill health, and may in part have been influenced by reaction to the real crimes of Eugene Chantrelle, who murdered his wife and whom Stevenson had met, and William Brodie, a housebreaker and thief, whom Stevenson had made the subject of an earlier play. It has also been claimed that the case of Louis Vivet, one of the earliest patients diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (many will be familiar with the more commonly used term (until recently) of multiple personality disorder); however, research suggests the publication of the study of Vivet's case came after Stevenson's tale, with no evidence to suggest he may have been aware of it prior to writing his story.

The novella was first adapted for the stage in 1887, and many adaptations for the stage have followed throughout the next thirteen decades. In 1908, it was first adapted for film, the first of many screen adaptations throughout the century and into the next, with some versions less than faithful to the original text. To date, the story has been adapted over a hundred times, yet, despite this familiarity, the original story loses none of its power.

Thrilling and mesmerising, 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' remains a gothic classic, frothing and bubbling with horror and suspense.

[This edition also includes four horror short stories and the Christmas novella 'The Misadventures of John Nicholson'.]



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The Classified Dossier - Sherlock Holmes and Mr Hyde by Christian Klaver

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Holmes and Watson hunt a sinister evil in another unearthed adventure from the supernatural case files.

Holmes' services are sought by Dr. Henry Jekyll, appealing to him to assist as his dark counterpart Mr. Edward Hyde is accused of murder.

Meanwhile, the police appeal to Holmes for help as a new series of murders suggest the Ripper has returned to stalk London's streets once again.

As the investigation leads Holmes and Watson into darker territory than ever before, they stumble across a plot that could mean the end of civilisation.

'Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Hyde' is the second volume in 'The Classified Dossier', an alternate Holmesian universe featuring characters of gothic horror fiction. Packed with action and adventure, mystery and the supernatural, as well as the real horror of Jack the Ripper and a fanatical cult, Klaver delivers a thrilling novel in the tradition of the classic fiction it emulates and expands upon.

Not only does the story feature Jekyll and Hyde, but Count Dracula and Mina return, as well as appearances from werewolves, and brushes with the Lovecraftian universe and the work of HG Wells. Ultimately, the novel delivers an exciting, thrill-ride with a mash-up of characters and bending of lore that you'd expect to see on the screen rather than the page; often, I was reminded of the original Dark Universe monster movies.

While diverting, in some elements significantly, from the established events of the source material of Stoker's Dracula, Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde, and Conan Doyle's Holmes stories, Klaver does demonstrate a detailed knowledge of all three canons and his changes are perhaps not as audacious as they may feel - those stories largely comprised of first person narratives or witness testimony and thus, by definition, presenting single perspectives with the potential to have been economical with the truth.

Building on the events of the previous volume, the novel develops the narrative threads that began in the separate novellas of the first book and deeper explores the rewriting of Dracula's tale and discoveries of the esoteric and the supernatural, culminating in a climatic action-packed finale that satisfies both narratively and emotionally.

The series will continue with 'Sherlock Holmes and Dorian Gray', promising a mystery for Holmes and Watson wrapped up with Egyptology and Wilde's anti-hero.



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