The New Annotated Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
The definitive edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal tale of depraved murder and unrelenting horror, introduced by Joe Hill, annotated by Edgar-winner Leslie S. Klinger, & illustrated with over 100 color images
There’s no question that The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the most influential texts of all time. The now-iconic tale, which has confounded and thrilled readers for more than a century, was described by one scholar as the only detective-crime story in which the solution is more terrifying than the problem. And even as its plot gets continually reinterpreted and reimagined in literature, film, and theater, the main themes persist, as do the titular characters, now so familiar as to have become a part of the English language.
This new edition gives the classic tale of depraved murder and unrelenting horror its most complete and illuminating presentation yet. Heavily illustrated with over a hundred and fifty full color images from the history of this cultural touchstone—including reproductions of rare books, film stills, theatrical posters, and the true-life people associated with the adventure—and extensively annotated by Edgar Award winning editor and noted Victorian literature expert Leslie S. Klinger, this thorough and authoritative approach is both an invaluable resource for scholars and a sumptuous treat for fans of the text.
Introduced by a compelling and erudite essay from bestselling novelist and short story writer Joe Hill, this complete illustrated and annotated edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the ultimate tribute to an enduring classic, combining revelatory and surprising information and in-depth historical context with beautiful illustrations and photographs. It is sure to please anyone interested in the Victorian era, mystery fiction, and horror tales.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this attractive volume, Edgar winner Klinger (The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes) employs his usual diligent research and thoughtful analysis to deepen appreciation of a genre classic. As Klinger notes in his foreword, Stevenson's novella, "like Frankenstein before it, has been too often simplified, distorted, and refashioned into a warning about good defeated by evil." In fact, as Klinger demonstrates, the story of the seemingly respectable doctor and his vicious, sadistic alter ego is much more complicated. Stevenson grew up in a society replete with hypocritical attitudes toward ethics, religion, and responsibilities toward the less fortunate, and this story reflects that ethos. Through Klinger's summations of late-19th-century English political, social, and cultural history; literary detection concerning the rumored burning of Stevenson's first version of the story; annotations noting subtle implications in Stevenson's book; insightful comparisons of earlier drafts of the classic; and observations on how the work was adapted for stage and screen, Klinger makes reading, or rereading, this masterpiece an immersive experience. Richly illustrated with scenes from Victorian London, playbills, and film images, this will instantly become the definitive edition of this complex and influential piece of literature.
