The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

By: Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrated by: David Thorn

Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Robert Louis Stevenson's brilliant story is a chilling mystery exploring the complexity of human nature, the combination of good and evil in everyone.

Dr. Henry Jekyll is good man, a hardworking scientist who is causing his friends great worry about his relationship with Edward Hyde, a violent, disagreeable man, who is in constant trouble. An innocent man is murdered, and Mr. Hyde is the only suspect.

How is Mr. Jekyll intimately involved in this death? How this mystery unravels has held fans spellbound for more than 150 years.

Table of Contents

Chapter 01. Story of the Door

Chapter 02. Search for Mr. Hyde

Chapter 03. Dr. Jekyll was Quite at Ease

Chapter 04. The Carew Murder Case

Chapter 05. Incident of the Letter

Chapter 06. Remarkable Incident of Dr. Lanyon

Chapter 07. Incident at the Window

Chapter 08. The Last Night

Chapter 09. Dr. Lanyon's Narrative

Chapter 10. Henry Jekyll's Full Statement of the Case

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish author and poet. The son and grandson of lighthouse designers, Stevenson spent a great deal of time with his father, listening to the tall tales of sailors, planting the seeds that became "Treasure Island" and "Kidnapped". In chronic poor health, Stevenson became a voracious reader as a child, and a beloved nanny encouraged him to write. Although supportive of his desire to become a writer, his parents insisted on a backup plan, which was a law degree. The law degree was unnecessary, Stevenson's wanderlust provided opportunities for travel writing and in pursuit of healthier climates, Stevenson traveled the world. Extremely popular during his lifetime, Stevenson finally found a pleasing climate in Samoa and lived happily ever after with his beloved wife.

Public Domain (P)2006 Alcazar Audioworks

This is Classics!

I heard about Jekyll and Hyde so many times, that I just had to know the whole story. After listening to it, I can say that it surpassed my expectations! It is Classics, with intriguing story and deep philosophical contemplations about the duality of human being.
The only (small) minus of this version is that book chapters do not correspond to the audiobook chapters, but as the book is short, it does not cause much inconvenience.
Overall, I highly recommend this version!

Can't imagine a better reading of this classic

What made the experience of listening to The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the most enjoyable?

It's a very atmospheric tale -- lots of sunsets, lamplit London streets, thick fogs, firelight -- and somehow David Thorn's reading seems just right for it, along with the brief interludes of appropriately atmospheric organ music between the chapters.

What does David Thorn bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'm not sure why some books work better on the printed page and others work better when read aloud. I do recall reading "Jekyll and Hyde" once or twice in the past and found it enjoyable (mainly, again, because of the atmosphere) but also undeniably stuffy, dated, and, in terms of plot, surprisingly crude and contrived; plus, various earnest moral analyses of character seem, today, somewhat too wordy, whereas various aspects of the plot that might well deserve further explanation are brushed over in too FEW words. But hearing it all read aloud in a proper English accent, at a properly measured pace, with the characters nicely and not too broadly distinguished by their individual accents, just seems to work beautifully. I listened to the story during two hour-long walks home through nighttime Manhattan, and the hours couldn't have passed more pleasantly.

Not a dull moment!

Great paced reader. Not a long book & much more engrossing read aloud...wish it was longer!

Short but good

Not the picture of Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde that movies do but a lot better great for this season.

had a hard time following

the performer. I couldn't understand much of the story because his words were very clipped and his pronunciation was awkward to me. The chapter didn't break properly, so when looking at the digital reader a chapter would start in the middle of another chapter's label. Lastly, the organ music that went with the chapter changes was absolutely ghastly and ruined the whole feel of the story for me. Sorry I spent the money on this, sadly. I had to download another version.