Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

OK, close enough to the end of 2017 for me to determine my favourite reads. Jekyll & Hyde is my 2017 BEST PENGUIN SHORT.

A well known novella published here (in full) as a Penguin 60s Classic.

RLS wrote this story in 1886 (reworked from an earlier story), after the success of Treasure Island. Falling to Victorian Gothic horror, it is a very well worked plot, enjoyable to read even when the reader already understands what the outcome will be - although as much as most of us understand the story, there are probably a few surprises for most readers.

In the examining of the duality of human nature, Dr Jekyll discovers a potion to temporarily separate out the worst of himself, forcing a physical change - to Mr Hyde. The story develops Dr Jekyll's struggle to restrain the Mr Hyde character, who is becoming more dominant and even changed to Mr Hyde involuntarily in his sleep once.

The writing is at times a bit bogged down in language - as one might expect from a 1886 book, but still quite readable.

4 Stars.