Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson is an incredibly well-known novella. Many often refer to people who seemingly completely change their personalities as being a Jekyll and Hyde. Few books have introduced such a common saying that has lasted well over a century.

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde tells the story of lawyer Gabriel John Utterson as he uncovers the truth behind disturbing crimes and events that seem to entangle the lives of a Mr. Edward Hyde and Utterson's friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll. Ultimately, Utterson uncovers that Jekyll has been conducting experiments on himself so that his darker side could come out and play without Jekyll being detected as the culprit. Slowly though, Jekyll no longer needs his experiments to turn into Hyde and does, at times, unwillingly turn into Hyde. He tries to rein Hyde in, but, ultimately, seemingly accepts that he may never do this again.

Stevenson is a famous author for a reason. His works have become classics. Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde grapples with ideas of the dichotomy of good and evil, society's judgment of what it deems shameful, and, arguably additional themes of addiction and homosexuality.

While I do not remember all of this book, as I read it in high school, I have never forgotten the story, its questions, or its eerie macabre nature.

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Longmans, Green & Co.