# Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

> 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson

**Wikidata**: [Q217352](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217352)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Case_of_Dr_Jekyll_and_Mr_Hyde)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/strange-case-of-dr-jekyll-and-mr-hyde

## Summary
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a novella by the Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson. Published in 1886, this literary work is classified across multiple genres, including sensation fiction, gothic fiction, and horror literature, and is notable for its exploration of themes such as devolution and criminology.

## Key Facts
- **Author**: Robert Louis Stevenson (Scottish novelist and poet, 1850–1894)
- **Format**: Novella (literary work)
- **Publication Date**: 1886
- **Inception Date**: October 1885
- **Country of Origin**: United Kingdom
- **Genres**: Sensation fiction, gothic fiction, science fiction, crime fiction, horror literature
- **Narrative Technique**: Story within a story
- **Thematic Concepts**: Evolutionary anthropology, criminology, devolution
- **Aliases**: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Jekyll and Hyde, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde

## FAQs
**Who wrote Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?**
The novella was written by Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish novelist and poet who lived from 1850 to 1894.

**What literary genres does the novella belong to?**
It spans several genres, including sensation fiction, gothic fiction, science fiction, crime fiction, and horror literature.

**When was the book written and published?**
The work was conceived in October 1885 and subsequently published in 1886.

**What narrative style is used in the story?**
The novella utilizes a "story within a story" narrative technique, where one character within the narrative narrates part of the tale.

**What academic fields are relevant to the story's themes?**
The text relates to evolutionary anthropology, the study of the evolution of human physiology and behavior, and criminology, the study of the causes and manifestations of crime.

## Why It Matters
This novella holds significance for its ability to blend distinct literary genres to evoke intense emotion and explore the aesthetic of fear. By integrating elements of sensation fiction—which centers on crime and transgression—with gothic fiction's themes of death and haunting, the work creates a complex narrative that engages with the scientific concerns of its era. Its relevance extends into the study of human behavior through its connections to evolutionary anthropology and the concept of devolution, offering a literary examination of the duality of human nature and the manifestations of crime.

## Notable For
- Being a prominent example of sensation fiction that seeks to arouse intense emotion through crime and mystery.
- Incorporating the "story within a story" narrative technique to structure its plot.
- Exploring the concept of devolution, defined as the process of evolving from a complex organism to a simpler organism.
- Originating in the United Kingdom during the late 19th century, a period noted for the rise of criminology as a field of study (inception circa 1900).

## Body

### Classification and Genre
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is categorized primarily as a literary work, specifically a novella intended for enjoyment or edification. It occupies a unique space across several distinct genres:
*   **Sensation Fiction**: A 19th-century genre that places crime, transgression, and mystery at the center of the narrative, with the specific goal of arousing intense emotion in the reader.
*   **Gothic Fiction**: A cross-media genre that combines horror and occasionally romance with an aesthetic characterized by fear, death, and haunting.
*   **Science Fiction**: Classified broadly as a genre of fiction, placing the work within a speculative context.
*   **Crime Fiction**: The work focuses on crime, encompassing the traditional elements of literature within this genre.
*   **Horror Literature**: It is recognized as a significant entry in the literary genre of horror.

### Authorship and Origin
The novella was created by Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish national and celebrated novelist and poet born in 1850 and deceased in 1894. The work is geographically associated with the United Kingdom, an island country in north-west Europe. The timeline of its creation places its inception in October 1885, with a publication date following in 1886.

### Narrative Structure
The plot is delivered through a specific narrative framework known as a "story within a story." This technique involves a character within the main narrative taking on the role of narrator, adding layers to the storytelling and perspective.

### Thematic Context
The work engages with several intellectual and scientific themes prevalent during the time of its writing:
*   **Evolutionary Anthropology**: The story intersects with the interdisciplinary study of the evolution of human physiology and behavior.
*   **Criminology**: It relates to the study of the causes and manifestations of crime, a field that formally saw its inception around 1900.
*   **Devolution**: The narrative touches upon the biological concept of devolution, the process of evolving from a complex organism to a simpler organism.

### Nomenclature
The entity is referred to by a variety of titles and aliases, including "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "Jekyll and Hyde," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde," "Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde," "The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde," and "Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde."

## References

1. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
2. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2003 Norton Critical Edition)
3. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales of Terror (2002 Penguin Classics ed.)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. MusicBrainz
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL24160W/Strange_Case_of_Dr_Jekyll_and_Mr_Hyde)
8. BBC Things
9. [Source](https://wolnelektury.pl/katalog/lektura/stevenson-dr-jekyll-i-mr-hyde/)
10. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute