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 AudioFile

Narrator Martin Jarvis masterfully delivers this classic tale of duplicity and transformation. His interpretation of the author's period and language makes for a performance that gives the famous characters a deserving renaissance. In the conversations, Jarvis sometimes gives characters distinct personalities and sometimes doesn't. His timing creates suspense, his sudden increases in volume startle, and his whispers imply the unspoken. The work itself--with its nineteenth-century English vocabulary and clever manner of revealing Jekyll's dark secret--shows scant resemblance to the modern mystery story. But the journey through gossip, innuendo, and suspicion comes from a writer of such talent that his stories will live forever. J.A.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

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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