Introducing the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, John Mason Brown remarks on how Robert Louis Stevenson came to write the famous book: “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was dream-born… but in its case interrupted in the very act of dreaming. Born of a dream? No. Of a nightmare, of course.” Stevenson apparently took ill in Bournemoth, England, cried out in his sleep, remarked, “I dreamed a fine bogey tale,” and proceeded to write out the book in three days. Once published, the book gained much prestige as a seminal “psychological thriller” that explored the many contradictions and convergent identities within human nature.
Collins Library’s Shelmidine Room houses a 1952 rare edition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which was first published in 1886. Bound in a marbled paper hard cover, the writing in this edition is punctuated by charcoal illustrations highlighting some of the more gruesome or odd moments in the book. One, towards the beginning of the story, shows Mr. Hyde trampling a young girl, the first public showing of his evil nature. The illustrations beautifully transition between the different moods and events of the book. To find more rare editions such as this, visit Archives & Special Collections during our open hours on Wednesdays 1 – 7 pm, or Thursdays 9 – 11:30 am!
By Maya Steinborn