The New Annotated Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Leslie S. Klinger presents Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novella with extensive annotations that place the work in its historical and cultural context. The annotations examine Victorian London, medical practices, social customs, and literary references that shaped the original story. This edition features over 100 illustrations from the text's publishing history, including the first edition's artwork. Klinger's research draws on period documents, maps of London, and scholarly analysis to create a comprehensive study of the work. The book includes Stevenson's original text along with margin notes explaining terminology, geographic locations, and biographical details about real people mentioned. Additional essays explore the novella's creation, publication history, and its various adaptations across different media. The annotations reveal deeper layers of meaning about Victorian anxieties regarding science, morality, and the nature of identity. This enhanced version illuminates how Stevenson's tale continues to resonate with modern readers through its examination of human duality and social facades.

Readers appreciate Klinger's detailed annotations that explore Victorian culture, medical practices, and London geography that inform the original text. Many note the value of explanatory notes about period-specific references and slang that modern readers might miss. The footnotes receive specific praise for historical context about 1880s London society, though some readers find the quantity of annotations overwhelming and say they interrupt the story's flow. Several reviewers mention the helpful maps and illustrations but note some images appear blurry or low quality. Common criticisms include the large physical size of the book making it unwieldy to read, and that some annotations state obvious points that don't need explanation. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (48 reviews) LibraryThing: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) "The annotations added depth I missed in previous readings" - Goodreads reviewer "Too many interruptions with unnecessary footnotes" - Amazon reviewer

Dracula by Bram Stoker This Victorian Gothic novel explores the dual nature of human identity through a shape-shifting monster who stalks London's streets.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde A man's portrait ages while he remains young, reflecting the split between public facade and private corruption in Victorian society.

The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells A scientist's transformation renders him invisible, leading to a descent into madness that mirrors Jekyll's experimental self-destruction.

The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H. P. Lovecraft The protagonist uncovers his own monstrous heritage in this tale of transformation and hidden identity in a New England seaside town.

The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad A ship captain harbors a mysterious fugitive who represents his own darker nature in this psychological exploration of the divided self.

🔹 Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the first draft of Jekyll & Hyde in just three days while bedridden and fevered, allegedly under the influence of cocaine (which was legal and commonly used as medicine at the time). 🔹 Leslie S. Klinger's annotations reveal that Stevenson's wife Fanny burned the original manuscript after reading it, believing it to be too disturbing. Stevenson rewrote the entire story in another three-day frenzy. 🔹 The phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" entered common language so quickly that within six months of the book's 1886 publication, political cartoonists were already using it to describe two-faced politicians. 🔹 The book was inspired by a real person - Deacon William Brodie, an Edinburgh city councilman by day and criminal by night, who was eventually hanged in 1788 for his crimes. 🔹 Stevenson's story coincided with (and perhaps influenced) the emerging field of psychology, particularly the concept of "split personality," which would later be termed Dissociative Identity Disorder.