If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of sufferers also.

Summary – A gothic story of monsters, murder and immortality.

The Perfect Drink – The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde contains a very famous drink: the potion that transforms Dr. Jekyll into the depraved Mr. Hyde. This potion is made with ‘a large quantity of a particular salt’, and the ingredients are made to ‘boil and smoke together in a glass’. You could replicate this concoction with a rich salted caramel hot chocolate, the milk on top frothed to resemble a bubbling potion. If you’d prefer a cold drink, try a tall glass of chilled cranberry juice in honour of the ‘blood-red liquor’ which is a key ingredient in Dr. Jekyll’s potion. Cranberry juice is refreshing and thirst-quenching at the same time as being dry, and sweet with a sharp tang – a doubleness which is entirely appropriate here.

The Perfect Snack – Thin squares of milk chocolate with chilli would be a good match here. The milk chocolate is sweet, rich and creamy, but the chilli adds spikes of fiery heat. It’s a flavour pairing that suggests the split between the good natured Dr. Jekyll and the corrupt Mr. Hyde. We think a slice of treacle tart would also be a good match for the atmosphere of the novella – its deep brown colour is evocative of dark Victorian wood and apothecary bottles. There is also a delicious textural contrast between the buttery crispness of the flaky pastry and the sweet, sticky filling. Eat yours with lashings of cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The Perfect Place – Conjure a gothic atmosphere by reading this novella beside a crackling fire in late autumn. Try to emulate the extremes of difference in the story by reading it when it’s dark and cold outside but warm and bright where you are.

A Note on the Quote – Although we feel that our chosen quote perfectly encapsulates the doubleness and moral turbulence of Robert Louis Stevenson’s story, our personal favourite is Gabriel Utterson’s hilarious line ‘If he be Mr Hyde… I shall be Mr Seek.’

What are your favourite Halloween reads? Let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.