Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde an introduction to…

What is a “novella”? prose fiction prose fiction longer than a long story, shorter than a novel longer than a long story, shorter than a novel unity of purpose and design (tight focus, but larger scope than short story) unity of purpose and design (tight focus, but larger scope than short story)

Robert Louis Stevenson Weak, sick child, frequent nightmares Weak, sick child, frequent nightmares Strong Presbyterian upbringing Strong Presbyterian upbringing Traveled widely, looking for healthy climate Traveled widely, looking for healthy climate Settled in Samoa with wife Settled in Samoa with wife Known as Tusitala (“tale-teller”) Known as Tusitala (“tale-teller”)

Composition Fall, 1885 (20 years after Civil War!) Fall, 1885 (20 years after Civil War!) “In the small hours of one morning, I was awakened by cries of horror from Louis. Thinking he had a nightmare, I awakened him. He said angrily: ‘Why did you wake me? I was dreaming a fine bogey tale.’ I had awakened him at the first transformation scene.” “In the small hours of one morning, I was awakened by cries of horror from Louis. Thinking he had a nightmare, I awakened him. He said angrily: ‘Why did you wake me? I was dreaming a fine bogey tale.’ I had awakened him at the first transformation scene.” Reads half aloud to family; receives (valid) criticism Reads half aloud to family; receives (valid) criticism Burns draft! Burns draft!

Composition, part 2 Creates new draft in three days. Creates new draft in three days. Intense revising and re-writing: 4-6 weeks Intense revising and re-writing: 4-6 weeks October 1885, letter to wife: “I drive on with Jekyll, bankruptcy at my heels.” October 1885, letter to wife: “I drive on with Jekyll, bankruptcy at my heels.” Published January 1886 Published January 1886

Reception Sold for 25 cents (paperback) or $1 (cloth) Sold for 25 cents (paperback) or $1 (cloth) 250,000 copies in USA within 10 years 250,000 copies in USA within 10 years Innumerable stage and screen adaptations (began months after publication) Innumerable stage and screen adaptations (began months after publication)

Social Context Tail-end of Victorian Era Tail-end of Victorian Era British Empire (India, Africa) British Empire (India, Africa) Rapid advances in science, technology (national railroad system, anesthesia, photography) Rapid advances in science, technology (national railroad system, anesthesia, photography) Society was outwardly religious, concerned with appearances and respectability Society was outwardly religious, concerned with appearances and respectability Intense modesty (clothing, topics of conversation) Intense modesty (clothing, topics of conversation) Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859) Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859) –man descended from beasts?