Completed (awhile ago): The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Jekyll and Hyde is one of those things you hear about when you're a kid. Its names are used as characterizations of personality, as a reference for people having split personality-style attitudes. But it's also a book. A book written in fun, older English. Not a long read, and perfect for around Halloween time - which is when I did read it. 

How much has the modern 'Jekyll and Hyde' idea strayed from the original? Quite a bit, as far as how much the book differed from my childhood impression of its title characters. I was expecting a Halloween-appropriate, creepy monster. In the end, I was left feeling tremendous sadness for Jekyll and all that he suffered. It is not the classic battle between good and evil that a simplistic modern interpretation makes it out to be. It is a tragedy, a man finding a liberation that ends up being his jailer and his self-inflicted end. The humanity of Jekyll, his trying to protect the world from himself, was both touching and pitiable. 

I love Stevenson's writing. I'll read more of him. Kidnapped? Treasure Island? 

Title: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Author: Robert Louie Stevenson

Published: 1886 (originally)

Pages: 144

Total Books Blogged: 37

Total Pages: 10,917