The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Stark and skillfully woven, this fascinating novel is a brilliantly original study of man's dual nature as well as an immortal tale of suspense and terror.Dr. Jekyll, a generous and philanthropic physician, is preoccupied with the problem of good and evil, and how to separate them. He develops a drug that will transform him into the demonic Mr. Hyde, in whose person he can exhaust all the latent evil in his nature. He also creates an antidote that will restore him to his respectable existence as Dr. Jekyll. Gradually, however, the unmitigated evil of his darker self begins to predominate.This tale of the twisted, malevolent persona unleashed from a mild-mannered physician has lost none of its ability to shock. Its realistic police-style narrative chillingly relates Dr. Jekyll's desperation as Hyde gains control of his soul--and gives voice to our own fears of the violence and evil within us.

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Martin Jarvis delivers a gripping reading of Stevenson's classic. When Gabriel Utteron discovers that the sinister Mr. Hyde has moved into the home of his friend Dr. Jekyll and stands to benefit from his will, he becomes concerned and enlists the help of their mutual friend, Dr. Hastie Lanyon. Things go from bad to worse: Jekyll withdraws further from his social circle; Hyde's criminal sprees culminate in murder; and Utteron and Lanyon fight to save their friend and unravel the mystery of Hyde's origins and disappearance. Jarvis's pacing is excellent, his characterization spot on, and his renditions of Jekyll and Hyde perfect; he creates two distinct characters that illustrate the story's exploration into the duality of human nature. (Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was born in Scotland. He studied engineering and law at the University of Edinburgh and then began writing while traveling in France. The publication of Treasure Island in 1883 brought him fame and entered him on a course of romantic fiction beloved by young and old alike.Martin Jarvis has starred in many West End productions and on Broadway in By Jeeves. His screen appearances include Titanic, Murder She Wrote, Miss Marple, Numb3rs, Inspector Morse, and Stargate Atlantis. He is an award-winning audiobook performer and has received an OBE from the Queen for his services to drama.

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