Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Stevenson's Gothic horror story became an instant classic when it was published in 1886, enthralling a nation already spellbound by tales of violent crime. The unveiling of Dr. Jekyll's strange relationship with his infamous creation forms one of the most memorable conclusions to any novel in English literature, and the characters have become a synonym for certain types of psychological behaviour. Stevenson described the story as 'an attempt to find a body, a vehicle, for that strong sense of man s double being which must at times come in upon and overwhelm the mind of every thinking creature.'

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) was a novelist, poet, and travel writer. His best-known works include A Child's Garden of Verses and Treasure Island. Magnus Linklater is a journalist, former editor of the Scotsman, and the chair of the Scottish Arts Council for five years.