Robert Louis Stevenson

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22294

Title

Robert Louis Stevenson

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume offers a warm, intimate appreciation of Robert Louis Stevenson by Margaret Moyes Black, a close family friend. Blending biography with personal reminiscence, it explores the author's heroic struggle against frail health, his deep Scottish heritage, and his chivalrous spirit. A lyrical tribute to a man who faced death with courage and joy.

Summary up to 500 words

Margaret Moyes Black presents a deeply personal and comprehensive portrait of Robert Louis Stevenson, drawing upon her unique position as a member of his mother's family and a contemporary of the author. The narrative begins by establishing Stevenson's proud lineage, tracing his ancestry to the heroic engineer Robert Stevenson of Bell Rock fame. This legacy of service and strength profoundly shaped the writer's character, instilling in him a deep sense of duty and chivalry. Black details Stevenson's early life, his delicate constitution, and the pivotal decision to seek health in warmer climates, a choice that defined his famous wanderings. The text chronicles his literary journey from early essays like 'Ordered South' to his celebrated travelogues, 'An Inland Voyage' and 'Travels in the Cevennes with a Donkey,' highlighting his keen observation of nature and humanity. It further examines his marriage, his life in Samoa, and his enduring friendship with Sydney Colvin. Throughout, Black emphasizes Stevenson's conscientious work ethic, his refusal to let illness define him, and his profound sympathy for others. The biography concludes with reflections on his legacy, the memorials erected in his honor, and the enduring value of his work, which remains bright, cheerful, and rich in idealism despite the shadow of his mortality. Black notes that Stevenson valued heredity, acknowledging the debt he owed to his ancestors who struggled against sterner conditions. He was a man of strong prejudices yet varying moods, enduring depression but always maintaining a courageous hold on life through constant work. His wanderings, though bringing no permanent improvement to his health, allowed him to study life in all its phases. He was an excellent linguist who formed friendships with men of all nationalities. His methods of work were singularly conscientious; he verified every statement, studied old records for accuracy in costume and dialect, and rewrote everything multiple times. Unlike many realists of his age, Stevenson stood apart, dipping his pen into wells of old romance to paint characters alive with strength and humor. His books are bright and breezy, full of chivalry and a spirit of purity. Though condemned by his health to live far from his native Edinburgh, his heart always turned fondly to the old home and the noble profession of his fathers. He was a man whose patience and courage gave his too short life a pathos and value, beloved by friends and admired by the younger school of writers. Black dedicates her work to the memory of Stevenson's family and friends, celebrating a man whose Christian character and desire to do good were wonderful to those who knew him best.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Biography