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The remaining selections place Stevenson as a master of the art of fiction. He was working on Weirof Hermiston when he died while dictating it to this stepdaugher
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As in most of Chesterton's biographies, the story of the subject's life is of minor interest here, compared to a philosophical and artistic description of the subject's works in the context of his time and "modern times." Chesterton is interested in the writer as a thinker, as a creator, and as a moral agent. In defending Stevenson and Chaucer, he argues for his view of Christianity, poetry, love, and artistic humility. If you want his religious views in a purer form, go to the brilliant Orthodoxy or Everlasting Man. If you want a detailed narration of the lives of the writers in question, look elsewhere. And even for this style of biography, I think his book on Dickens was the best I've read. But I found his opinionated description and defense of Chaucer and his times also very interesting. And while he does not scatter brilliant sayings like rose petals at a wedding, as in his best books, (reading Everlasting Man, I wanted to copy every other sentence) a few blossoms do flutter down, like the following, which also explain Chesterton's method:
"The truly impartial historian is not he who is enthusiastic for neither side in a historical struggle. . .The truly impartial historian is he who is enthusiastic for both sides. He holds in his heart a hundred fanaticisms."
"The greatest poets of the world have a certain serenity, because they have not bothered to invent a small philosophy, but have rather inherited a large philosophy. It is, nine times out of ten, a philosophy which very great men share with very ordinary men. It is therefore not a theory which attracts attention as a theory."
Author, Jesus and the Religions of Man (July 2000)
d.marshall@sun.ac.jp
What you are offered is a trip inside the very essence of man. Our split self: Good and bad locked in a bound of exiting co-existence. The setting is mystical yet cleverly portrayed trough the 1800's London, told and witnessed with the views of a bachelor. A Scientific project that went terrible wrong, along with mans most intimate thoughts is beautifully exposed in this epic novel. If you look just a little deeper in the ever-present allegory you could truly gain some interesting visions.
To understand the complexity of the allegory Harry M. Geduld did a solid job, providing even more interpretations and background information than you would ever look for. This if anything might put some readers off a bit. I found it a little comprehensive at first, since the descriptions and comparisons relies on some previous knowledge on the subject. It should be noted that this was the first time I read the story and this book as a whole is more of a study in the general field of split personality, or the double (the term widely used throughout the book) and its usage in past and present literature. This should not be an obstacle for anyone, just skip right too the original novel and go from there. If you like me find the allegory interesting there is heaps of information to dig in on. After deciding to do so you get an in depth analysis on every aspect of the novel, along with various related information. It covers: how it came to life, the author, comments, critics, comparisons and parallels to other works of literature, and last but not least the role of Jekyll and Hyde in theatre and movie productions. Several short novels based on the same subject or indeed even the story itself makes for a relaxing in between reading.
While this is not the easiest of reads you could really gain some self-insight and general understanding of the human mind, and its mysterious ways. I know I did.
This is a book I would recommend without hesitation! But if your not ready to "dig in", the stand alone novel could be a better choice.
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The onion-layer style serves very well its mission to reveal every event in a semi-slow but tense pace. The environment is insuperable: the dark, wet and gas-lighted streets of London, where Mr. Hyde's steps resonate frighteningly. The ending is horrifying and very well written and, overall, this is a gem of a book. It should be best read in loneliness, in the dark. It is much more than a simple horror novel, because it says something very real and very terrible: without moral restraints, our deeper self can be unbearably evil. It's true.
A book of suspense and mystery, it is foremost a book about psychology, exploring the sweet duality of Good and Evil. And though Hyde may be Evil, i have doubts about Jekyill being Good itself. No, the doctor is merely a troubled soul longing for freedom, and that's what Hyde gives. Freedon without consequences, a theme of debate even nowadys.
Stevenson's work is simply grounbreaking. It explores so many things: ethics in science; the limits of science and knowledge; how science may affect people. Like The Invisible Man, it talks about the tribulations of scientists and what are their limitations. It's also a dark view of science, for it makes it as something without benefits in the end.
But besides this, its still a horror story, a classical one, with all the old ingredients: dark nights; the london fog; a murderer walking about the streets after the next victims. And he does find a couple of them. In my chilliest moments, i like to think Jack the Ripper himself reed this book and decided to make it true.
This story of the nice, mellow Dr. Jekyll and his hidden mad-man persona, Mr. Hyde, is a classic clash of good and evil. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader wondering about each one's true identity. From Hyde's first trampling, to his murder, to the bitter end, he is portrayed as the exact opposite of Dr. Jekyll, despite an odd, hidden relationship. Only at the very end is the mystery compltely solved.
What makes the novel most unique is the inclusion of numerous other developed characters besides Jekyll and Hyde, such as Utterson, Lanyon, and Enfield. All in all, this is a timeless tale, a true stoy of inner conflict. What this novel lacks in length, it makes up for in well-developed characters, and a superb plot. A must-read.
You literally picture yourself alongside Drake and Henderson as they dive on the Norfolk. With the current political turmoil you have no trouble believing the actions and attitudes as given in this "action and intrique" piece of fiction.
A GREAT read and I'm already standing in line for Robert Louis Stevenson III next one.