The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote 'The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' in spring 1885, after apparently dreaming key scenes from the story.

He wrote the story swiftly, despite burning the first draft of the novel following criticism from his wife, and it was published in January 1886.

It tells the story of an investigation by London lawyer John Utterson, which as it progresses reveals that Dr Henry Jekyll, an honourable, respectable man of science, has unwittingly unleashed his evil inner self in the form of the violent, brutish and immoral Edward Hyde.

The story explores the relationship within us between our inner, base desires and outward morality. It anticipates the interest in the subconscious and emotional repression. At the same time the division in Jekyll/Hyde has been seen as representative of Victorian society or of Scotland, even though it is set in London.

The book is famous for its portrayal of a 'split personality' and the phrase 'Jekyll and Hyde character' is now often used to describe a person who displays radically different behaviour from one situation to the next.

It is also said that the story was inspired by the real life of Edinburgh's Deacon Brodie - a respectable cabinet-maker and town council member by day, who also was a daring thief by night.

The book was an instant success; the first play appeared in 1887 and was to run for 20 years. Numerous stage and cinema adaptations followed.

Edinburgh City of Literature resources

Illustrations (c) Cam Kennedy 2008. Adapted Text (c) Alan Grant 2008. Reproduced by kind permission of Waverley Books Ltd.