Author: Robert Louis Stevenson Genre: Gothic Mystery Novel Date Published: 1886 Setting: London, in the late 18 th century Protagonist: Henry Jekyll

Part I: Robert Louis Stevenson (the author) A. Childhood 1. born on November 13, 1850 in Scotland 2. only child in a middle class family 3. ill as a child, suffered from tuberculosis 4. nanny read him stories as a child, which impacted his life B. Education 1. attended Edinburgh University 2. studied Literature and Law

C. Adulthood – Robert Louis Stevenson 1. spent time going back & forth between the French Riviera & southern England because the warmer climate helped his poor health 2. Met and fell in love with Fanny, an American who was 10 years older 3. wrote short stories and novels a. Treasure Island – his first great success about a swashbuckling pirate named Long John Silver (1883)

b. Other works include: Kidnapped, An Inland Voyage, A Child’s Garden of Verses and David Balfour c. Married Fanny, traveled back and forth between U.S. and Europe d. Died on December 3, 1894 at 44 years old

Part II: The story ~ An instant success!! A. Originally written in 1885 B. Wrote 1 st version after a dream he had C. After Fanny read the story, she called it nothing more than a “spooky story” and suggested he explore the dark side of human nature D. Stevenson threw the draft into the fire and wrote the second version in 3 days 1. based on upper middle class men 2. evil in society vs. the evil nature of man 3. 2 towns – New Town: respectable, religious, polite, conventional 4. Edinburgh – brothels, shadiness, crime (these two outlooks of the same city fascinated him)

Britain was experiencing a period of intense social, economic, and spiritual change. It captured some readers’ fears that their society was hypocritical. Some viewed it as a symbolic representation that new ideas about economics, science, and psychology threatened traditional British society. To some, Edward Hyde represented the increasing political power of the working class.