It highlights the rigid social hierarchies of Victorian England, where servants worked 16-hour days and had virtually no life outside their duties.
The novel was a critical success, winning the and being nominated for major awards like the Nebula. In 1996, it was adapted into a major motion picture starring Julia Roberts as Mary Reilly and John Malkovich as Jekyll/Hyde. Mary Reilly
Unlike the original story, which focuses on scientific hubris, Mary Reilly explores the deepening emotional bond between Mary and Jekyll. Jekyll begins to treat Mary as a confidante, even as he spirals into his dangerous experiments. It highlights the rigid social hierarchies of Victorian
The story is highly regarded for adding layers of complexity to the source material: which focuses on scientific hubris