Der seltsame Fall des Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde: Illustrierte und überarbeitete Fassung
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About this ebook
Stevensons wohl bedeutendste Geschichte, und eine der berühmtesten Horrornovellen überhaupt, wurde 1886 zum ersten großen Publikumserfolg des bis dahin nur wenig bekannten Robert Louis Stevenson.
Dr. Jekyll ist es mit Hilfe von chemischen Experimenten gelungen, der bösen, triebhaften Seite seines Wesens eine eigene Gestalt zu geben. Als Mr. Hyde treibt er im nebelverhangenen London sein Unwesen.
Doch die Rückverwandlung in einen Menschen wird immer schwieriger.
Mit 19 Illustrationen
Null Papier Verlag
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson was born on 13 November 1850, changing his second name to ‘Louis’ at the age of eighteen. He has always been loved and admired by countless readers and critics for ‘the excitement, the fierce joy, the delight in strangeness, the pleasure in deep and dark adventures’ found in his classic stories and, without doubt, he created some of the most horribly unforgettable characters in literature and, above all, Mr. Edward Hyde.
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Reviews for Der seltsame Fall des Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde
3,575 ratings128 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I am watching the new season of Penny Dreadful and they are featuring Dr. Jekyll this year. I realized I have never read this book, so I decided to pick it up in preparation for the show.
The writing feels very dense, and the pacing is slow. The reader slowly gets a feeling of dread, rather than outright scares. This is common with many of the horror stories of the period that I have read.
The story is interesting, with much musing on the nature of good and evil. It was a bit slower paced than I like, but this is a short book and easy to read in a day. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Bet this was a blitz before everyone and their kid knew the secret twist. A fine gothic novella, proceeding on railroad towards the ending you already knew was coming.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It's not called a classic without good reason. It's an almost perfectly plotted short novel, all the parts complementing each other, all serving to build tension and anticipation. The good doctor is suitably tragic, Hyde is suitably degenerate and, despite having seen the multitude of adaptations over the years, it still feels remarkably fresh and modern. All of Stevenson's stylistic flourishes are on show, as well as his rarely bettered storytelling ability. I'd give it six stars if I could.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5interesting... not what I remember from 15 yrs ago. that's what happens with memory and Hollywood influence.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Small but incredibly effective. Like, I know Jekyll and Hyde are the same person. Everyone knows that. I still felt actually horrified at the reveal of that fact, because Stevenson did such a good job drawing the main characters and the people surrounding them. Like The Picture of Dorian Gray, (Wilde was an admirer of the book), it explores inner and outer natures by dividing them, showing what people might do if it would never be found out and never physically affect them, and it's all the more compelling because their flaws start out so small and relatable. Jekyll didn't suffer from a deep dark secret at first, he just didn't want anyone to know about his small flaws. Excellent for the Halloween season, and especially good read in company with Dorian Gray, because both are so complete, so layered, and so subtle where it counts.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5“... that man is not truly one, but truly two.”The idea that we all have a dark side? Well, certainly the main character of this story does! Dr. Henry Jekyll meets/creates/releases Edward Hyde, “The evil side of my nature,...”, and is not the same for it! It's a quick read, well except for the last chapter that draaaaags on, and an important story in the history of "horror" literature, so I'm glad I read it! Not scary by today's standards, but still a freaky idea and one that has been repeated often! I wonder which of my two halves would be the dominant one? Or do I have more than two? Hmm...
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I was expecting more. Why? Because everyone knows the tale, I just assumed the writing would be better.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a re-read of this classic 19th century novella which has been the inspiration behind so many spin-offs since. It is a taut and atmospheric piece of writing, and the conclusion that Jekyll and Hyde are one and the same, two sides of the same being, only becomes evident near the end - it is hard for us to understand how this would have shocked and thrilled the reader in 1886, so familiar has the Jekyll and Hyde motif become.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5might be the best crafted short story I've ever read
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is one of those classic stories it would be almost impossible to not be aware of on some level. The basic concept of the book is deeply ingrained in pop culture, but a lot of people probably haven't read the origin of what has become a legend of sorts.Reading the classics isn't always easy; the writing style being of a previous era. But it gives a new and interesting perspective to read the original texts that have spawned so many echoes through to the modern day.This book is a good place to start if you're wanting to start dipping into the classics. The older style might take some getting used to, but it's short. It would be easy enough to read the whole thing in a single quiet afternoon, but if read in smaller doses, still wouldn't take a terribly long time to get through.As with other classic works I've read, such as Frankenstein, the nuances and details were not quite what I expected. It has a much deeper reflection on human nature, for one.This is well worth reading, if only to see how the tale was originally portrayed.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I love the story. However, since nearly 98% of the population is familiar with this story, it is kind of a drag to read this since you know how everything unfolds. I also didn't find the way in which the story was told very captivating. It is such a thin book, and I had a terrible time getting through it. I actually skipped parts in this book because they were so dreadfully boring.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I fantom I would have liked this book a lot more if I didn't already know from the start who was Hyde. Nevertheless, it was actually very interesting once the "action" picked up. Although I found Utterson somewhat boring at times, the ending of the book made it worth it to see it through. The most interesting part was definitely the explanation of Dr Jekyll himself at the end, which I read eagerly. Overall, it was a nice book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5So short, but so powerful. This is one of those stories where you think you know how it goes, but upon reading you find that it has been re-interpreted for so many years in so many forms that it feels completely different. Well, not completely. But still, the decades of alterations made this novella feel fresh and rich. I would have liked it to be longer, since I was so drawn in by the world of dark clouds and sinister encounters, and the novella ends on an abrupt note. However, it was pleasingly eerie and direct while it lasted.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I had read this book many years back, and read it again. It is indeed one of the more fascinating books that I have read. It's been a while since I read some of the old classics ( I started with Bertie Wooster!), and it took one or two pages before I got back into the swing of it allThe concept is incredible, and does indeed hark to the present when we are trying all sorts of brain and other experiments. It does teach us the dangers of meddling too much with biology, and playing God. Beautiful book, Needs to be widely read again
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I could not put this book down. I love it and I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I will definitely be re-reading this one next month and every October from now on.It is such an incredible story. Like me, you may know it from movies but, as always, the book is so much better. I cannot say enough good stuff about this it.Since it is so good and such a fast read, I will be making everyone I know read this. If you haven't read it yet, go read it right now. You wont regret it. Seriously, go! Right now!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the first time I've ever read the original Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I'll admit I had no idea it was written by the same author as Treasure Island, which I also have not read yet. I would not have put those two ideas to the same author, so it's been enlightening all around! It's also amazing to me what a short story this really was, only 94 pages, to have inspired so many adaptations and interpretations, movies, etc.
It was an interesting dark fantasy tale with an important lesson about giving in to our baser natures. The more we indulge them, the more it becomes who we are until we're no longer able to hide or control those tendencies. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5"He was wild when he was young; a long while ago to be sure; but in the law of God there is no statute of limitations." - Utterson, Esq.The best thing about old books is the detail in the writing. It makes more obvious the complacency of mind found in the generation of television and wifi.Henry Jekyll recognized that man has two persons living inside them - both good and evil. He was bored with being the "good doctor" and wanted to indulge in mischief without being held accountable for his actions, so he freed his murderous, unscrupulous self in the form of Edward Hyde. At first, had it not been for his evil other's indifference toward him, Jekyll would have been tempted to remain the depraved Mr. Hyde, but eventually they came to resent one another and Hyde became Jekyll's ruin as happens when one chooses their evil self.I'm glad I read this book. I was expecting Mr. Hyde to be as big and ugly as he is in movies, but he was actually a petite man who had an appetite for very bad coupled with a malevolent countenance and a look of deformity that no one could put their finger on.Goodread!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I wish people still wrote this way. Or at least, still wrote this way WELL.Just the first sentence is great. Stevenson really has a great way of describing people, both physically and characteristically.One of the most interesting things about this story is all the possibilities and underlying meanings you can get from it. The way Jekyll refers to both of his personalities in third person, his underlying thirst for and pleasure in evil, his addiction to Hyde, etc. It's actually pretty dark, and I'm sure we can all agree that Jekyll is a bit on the crazy side.But there's definitely a reason that Jekyll and Hyde have become household names and inspiration to countless stories and characters.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great story. I was very surprised that the chronology was reversed. It starts at the end and works its way forward, a device that none of the knock-off versions of this tale use. A master story teller.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The classic story of the good, but boring Dr Jekyll who transforms himself into the vital and evil Mr Hyde. Jekyll comes to loath him, but has become addicted.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I originally selected this book because I have it on my bookshelf and I have never had the time to read it. I pulled it off the shelf and placed it by my bed with hopes to finish it before my reading class was over. As it turned out I just never found the time to crack open the cover. Therefore, I searched for the audio version. To my surprised I found it right away at a reseaonable price and by a narrartor with which I was familiar. I have listen to Dick Hill narrate several novels I have read by Sanda Brown. I listened to the book in one night. I was was intrigued by the story but also confused. I had a hard time following the narration. A few times I glanced through the book while i was listening to Dick read the pages. I was surprised with how difficult this book is to read. I didn't think it would be so complicated. I had never thought of this as a text for children, and now I really don't think that it is. I think the text is too difficult for many students, and students in the classes I teach would need a lot of background information taught before a story like this could be even be looked at. I do not forsee reading this book to my class, or for my class. I am glad I read the story and I feel it was important, but I think the text would be better suited for a college level course where students were able to talk about the characters in greater detail and with greater insight. I do recommend this book for adults. The text is a classic and it should still be read because it did explain what I knew about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stevenson paints a very dark and bleak picture of London. His language makes the story very claustrophobic and although I came at this book already knowing the plot, I found that the understated writing style made it all just a touch more scary than I'd expected. Best read alone on a rainy night, under a blanket.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nice short read. Even though you know the ending ten pages in, I still enjoyed it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book truly does earn the title of "classic". It has suspense, interesting characters, a fine storyline, and something that some books that are considered "classics" are lacking: a point. You could argue about whether the true demon of the story is man's nature, science, or the Promethian tendency of the eponimous doctor. However, the essence of the story is the classic "tradgedy" plotline: the hubris of the lead character leads to his downfall. I do emphasize the word "tragedy" in my review, as it's definitely not a happy-fun-time kind of book. But if you don't go into it expecting that, you will probably be perfectly satisified. In the end, I would say that the main flaw of this book is that it is infuriatingly short. You could almost complain that this book is nothing more than an extended short story. However, from another viewpoint this could be a virtue; what's better than a classic novel that can be read in less than two hours?
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This creepy novel explores the good and evil found in all of us, as well as the marriage of science and mysticism, A fabulous horror classic!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is a story of multiple personality person.He has two personality.One is very aggressive,another is calm.This is a interesting story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great piece of literature. Really interesting way of keeping the reader blind to very key pieces of information that would allow for easier identification of potential threats and climaxes. Really enjoy RLS and look forward to reading more of his work.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I wasn't sure what to really expect with this one. Yes, it's a classic that "everyone knows about," but I didn't really know what it was about going into reading it. I knew there was a Doctor who turns himself into Mr. Hyde (pure evil). I didn't really know the specifics or anything about other characters or story line in general.
I have a somewhat ignorance with a good amount of classic books. I know them, I know enough to want to read them, but I don't peruse them further until I read them. This helps give me a fresh reaction to the story.
So my reaction to this story was great overall. Like many classics I actually listened to the audiobook version (librivox.org is GREAT for this and my budget) because it helps me read them at a good pace and makes it easier for me to pay attention. I just can't read some of the writing sometimes no matter how beautiful. Ok, back to the review, haha. It was a great story with a mystery and a great moral dilemma about good and evil. I won't really get into much more though. I know it's short and I'm not saying really anything at all. But I really like Stevenson's writing and the horror added into the mystery of what's going on. I've read Treasure Island only from him, so this is number 2 I've read. I'll have to now go and read more of him since I'm enjoying it. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I liked this book a lot. It's a short book but it still has lots of mystery and exciting parts within it. It's about a man named Mr. Utterson who tries to learn about the mysterious Mr. Hyde who is Dr. Jekyll's evil side.In the book, the setting is based in England. Dr. Jekyll finds a way to make a compound that allows him to transform into a separate personality, Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde is a younger and pure evil being. I personally like Mr. Hyde's name a lot. His name sounds like the word "hide" and Mr. Hyde's personality reflects his name. He tries to be discreet and tries to not talk to anyone unless he has to. Throughout the book, Mr. Utterson tries to learn about this mysterious Mr. Hyde. Almost nobody knows about him. Finally, after many mysterious encounters with Dr. Jekyll and one murder, he learns who Mr. Hyde truly is when he reads a letter that was left for him. I also liked this book a lot because the story isn't just told from the point of view of one person. It's mainly told from the point of view from one person, but it's also told from the point of view of two other people.This book is very good! It makes you feel multiple emotions as you read it. It makes you excited, scared, surprised, and curious. I would recommend it to many people.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Short and sweet and pretty interesting. Not a bad read.
Book preview
Der seltsame Fall des Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
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Autor
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (✳ 13. November 1850 in Edinburgh; † 3. Dezember 1894 in Vailima, nahe Apia, Samoa) war ein schottischer Schriftsteller des viktorianischen Zeitalters. Stevenson, der an Tuberkulose litt, wurde nur 44 Jahre alt; jedoch hinterließ er ein umfangreiches Werk von Reiseerzählungen, Abenteuerliteratur und historischen Romanen sowie Lyrik und Essays.
Bekannt geworden sind vor allem der Jugendbuchklassiker »Die Schatzinsel« sowie die Schauernovelle »Der seltsame Fall des Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde«. Eine Reihe seiner Romane ist heute noch populär und zum Teil verfilmt worden.
Robert Louis Stevenson wurde als einziger Sohn des Ingenieurs und Leuchtturmbauers Thomas Stevenson und der Margaret Isabella Stevenson, geborene Balfour, in Howard Place, Edinburgh, geboren.
Das schottische Klima mit kühlen Sommern und regnerischen, nebligen Wintern war für Mutter und Sohn äußerst ungünstig, die beide zeit ihres Lebens von geschwächter Konstitution waren. Lang Jahre erhielt Stevenson als Kind und Jugendlicher Privatunterricht, da er zu oft krank war, um einem regelmäßigen Schulbesuch nachgehen zu können.
Während seiner Kindheit schrieb Stevenson ständig Essays und Geschichten. Das erste historische Buch des jungen Stevenson »Pentland Rising«, das er in der Tradition der Romane von Sir Walter Scott verfasste, erschien im Jahr 1866. Der Roman war von geringem literarischem Wert.
1867 immatrikulierte sich Stevenson an der Universität Edinburgh, studierte zunächst Technik und wechselte aufgrund seines labilen Gesundheitszustands 1871 zum Studium der Rechtswissenschaft. Der hochgewachsene schmalschultrige Louis gab sich als Bohemien, trug eine blaue Samtjacke, schulterlanges Haar und einen Schnurrbart und erregte mit seinem Auftreten Aufsehen in seiner Heimatstadt. Seine Diskutierfreude, die Hinwendung zum Atheismus und die Auflehnung gegen die sozialen Verhältnisse im viktorianischen Königreich entfremdeten ihn dem konservativen Elternhaus.
Am 19. Mai 1880 heiratete Stevenson die 10 Jahre ältere und geschiedene Fanny Osbourne, die zwei Kinde mit in die Ehe brachte. Wider Erwarten verstanden sich der streng konservative calvinistische Vater Thomas Stevenson und die geschiedene, Zigaretten rauchende Schwiegertochter ausgezeichnet.
1880 diagnostizierten Ärzte bei Stevenson eine beginnende Tuberkulose.
»Die Schatzinsel« erschien ab Ende des Jahres 1881 in mehreren Fortsetzungen in der Jugendzeitschrift Young Folks, fand jedoch wenig Beachtung. Als im Jahr 1883 der Roman mit dem Titel »Treasure Island« in Buchform bei Cassel & Company in London veröffentlicht wurde, ausgestattet mit zahlreichen Holzschnitten von Georges Roux und der abgedruckten Schatzkarte, wurde er ein Bestseller; bereits nach wenigen Jahren waren 75.000 Exemplare verkauft.
Im Jahr 1886 schrieb Stevenson »Der seltsame Fall des Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde«, eine Schauernovelle, die auf einem authentischen Fall beruht.
1887 lernte Stevenson den amerikanischen Schriftsteller Henry James kennen, der sich als einer der ersten Kritiker ernsthaft, zugleich begeistert, mit seinem Werk auseinandersetzte.
Der Vater Thomas Stevenson verstarb am 8. Mai 1887 in Edinburgh.
Während eines Besuchs in New York im Jahr 1888 traf Stevenson Mark Twain, dessen »Huckleberry Finn« ihn begeistert hatte; im Washington Square Park saßen beide lange auf einer Bank und diskutierten. Ein Briefwechsel schloss sich daraufhin an.
Im Dezember 1898 besuchte Stevenson erstmals Samoa, wo er ein Anwesen am Fuß des Mount Vaea, unweit Apia auf der Insel Upolu erwarb. Der Plantage, die Stevenson für 400 Pfund erworben hatte, und dem Wohnhaus, das ab Januar 1891 in zweijähriger Bauzeit errichtet wurde, gab er den Namen »Vailima« (»Wasser aus der Hand«).
Zeitweise lebten auf der Plantage ein ganzer Familien-Clan: Großmutter, Mutter, Vater, Kinder, Angeheiratete und Enkel.
Am Abend des 3. Dezember 1894 brach Stevenson bewusstlos zusammen. Herbeigerufene Ärzte konnten nicht mehr helfen. Im Beisein der Familie, der Diener und Geistlichen starb Stevenson, erst 44-jährig, ohne noch einmal das Bewusstsein erlangt zu haben. Als Todesursache wurde eine Intrazerebrale Blutung vermerkt. Die Einheimischen defilierten am Totenbett vorbei und hielten die Totenwache. Stevenson wurde am Gipfel des Mount Vaea begraben, wie er es sich gewünscht hatte.
Robert Louis Stevenson hat ein umfangreiches Werk von Romanen, Novellen, Reisebeschreibungen, Theaterstücken, Gedichten, Essays und Briefen hinterlassen. Es ist dem häufigen Ortswechsel Stevensons geschuldet, dass sein Nachlass weit verstreut archiviert ist.
Zu Lebzeiten war Stevenson sehr bekannt, doch als die Literatur der klassischen Moderne nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg aufkam, wurde er in Großbritannien als Autor zweiter Klasse angesehen, begrenzt auf das Genre der Kinder- und Horrorliteratur. Erst das späte 20. Jahrhundert würdigte Stevenson wieder als einen Autor ersten Ranges, als Literaturtheoretiker, Essayisten und Sozialkritiker, als Humanisten und als Zeugen der Geschichte der pazifischen Inseln.
Die Geschichte der Tür
Der Rechtsanwalt Utterson hatte ein zerfurchtes Gesicht, über das nie ein Lächeln huschte; er war kühl, wortkarg und verlegen in der Unterhaltung, schwerfällig in Gefühlsangelegenheiten, lang, hager, verstaubt und farblos — und doch irgendwie liebenswert. Kam er mit Freunden zusammen und war der Wein nach seinem Geschmack, so leuchtete aus seinem Blick etwas ungemein Menschliches — etwas, das sich beileibe nie in seine Rede verirrt hätte, das aber nicht nur bei solchen Gelegenheiten aus den Zügen seines Gesichtes, sondern öfter und deutlicher noch im Leben aus seinen Handlungen sprach. Er war hart gegen sich selbst, trank, wenn er allein war, Wacholderschnaps, um seine Schwäche für edlen Wein zu unterdrücken, und war, obgleich er eine Vorliebe fürs Theater hatte, seit zwanzig Jahren in keinem gewesen. Dabei war er voll Duldsamkeit gegen andere, ja bestaunte, manchmal fast neidisch, das Draufgängertum, das ihre Missetaten beseelte, und war im Notfall eher zu helfen als zu tadeln bereit. »Ich neige zu Kains ketzerischer Ansicht«, pflegte er bedächtig zu sagen: »Ich lasse meinen Nächsten zur Hölle fahren, wie es ihm beliebt.« Daher war es häufig sein Schicksal, dass er die letzte achtbare Bekanntschaft und der letzte gute Einfluss im Leben von Menschen war, die sich auf abschüssiger Bahn befanden. Und gerade sie ließ er auch nicht den Schatten eines veränderten Benehmens merken, solange sie bei ihm aus und ein gingen.
Allerdings war dies kein Kunststück für Mr. Utterson; denn er war von Natur zurückhaltend, und auch seine Freundschaften schienen in einer ähnlich gutmütigen Vorurteilslosigkeit begründet zu sein. Es ist das Kennzeichen eines bescheidenen Mannes, dass er seinen Freundeskreis fix und fertig aus den Händen der Vorsehung entgegennimmt, und so erging es dem Rechtsanwalt. Seine Freunde waren Verwandte oder Leute, die er schon lange kannte; seine Zuneigungen waren mit der Zeit gewachsen, gleich Efeu, und machten keinen Anspruch auf Tauglichkeit des Objekts. Daraus erwuchs zweifellos auch das Band, das ihn mit Mr. Richard Enfield, einem entfernten Verwandten und stadtbekannten Mann, verknüpfte. Vielen war es ein Rätsel, was diese beiden zueinander zog oder was sie wohl für gemeinsame Interessen haben mochten. Leute, die ihnen auf ihren Sonntagsspaziergängen begegneten, wussten zu berichten, dass sie nichts miteinander sprachen, außerordentlich gelangweilt dreinschauten und mit offensichtlicher Erleichterung das Erscheinen eines Bekannten begrüßten. Dabei aber legten beide Männer den größten Wert auf diese Ausflüge, betrachteten sie als Höhepunkt der Woche und gingen, um sie ungestört genießen zu können, nicht nur Vergnügungen aus dem Wege, sondern ließen auch Geschäft Geschäft sein.
Auf einem dieser Streifzüge geschah es, dass ihr Weg sie durch eine Seitenstraße in ein Geschäftsviertel Londons führte. Es war eine schmale, sogenannte ruhige Straße, in der jedoch an Werktagen ein ersprießlicher Handel getrieben wurde. Ihren Bewohnern ging es anscheinend gut, und alle strebten danach, dass es ihnen noch besser ginge. Was ihnen vom Gewinn übrigblieb, legten sie in der Verschönerung ihrer Häuser an, sodass die Läden dieser Durchgangsstraße etwas Einladendes an sich hatten, wie eine Reihe lächelnder Verkäuferinnen. Selbst sonntags, wenn sie ihre wahren Reize verbarg und verhältnismäßig menschenleer dalag, wirkte die Straße im Gegensatz zu ihrer schmutzigen Nachbarschaft wie ein weißer Rabe und bestach mit ihren frisch angestrichenen Rolläden und blankpolierten Messingschildern, ihrer allgemeinen Sauberkeit und einer gewissen heiteren Note sofort die Augen der Vorübergehenden und erregte ihr Wohlgefallen.
Zwei Häuser hinter