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The World of Robert Louis Stevenson. Who is Robert Louis Stevenson?.
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Who is Robert Louis Stevenson? He was a Scottish writer from the nineteenth century who wrote many poems, travel books and novels, including Treasure Island. He loved language, and his poetic turn of phrase is obvious even in his fiction. He also loved adventure, and this combination of a love of language and adventure made his books quite popular in their time.
Stevenson’s Early Life • born in 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland • His father was a lighthouse engineer and so was his grandfather; he was allowed to accompany his father on lighthouse inspections • he was sick a lot and missed school • he did not have brothers or sisters
Reading and Writing • Stevenson missed a lot of school and so didn’t learn to read until he was about seven or eight • Stevenson didn’t always fit in • He always loved to write stories, even dictating them to his mother, nurse, or tutor • Stevenson’s father paid for the publishing of a small book when Stevenson was 16
University Years • Stevenson studied engineering, but didn’t really like it • He debated • Dabbled in drama • Spent time with Bob, a lively artistic cousin • Stevenson decided to pursue writing • His father was at first angry, but then agrees to it, so long as he studies law as a back-up career
The Young Man • Stevenson makes many friends in London • He grows his hair long and dresses a bit bohemian • He falls in love with an older woman • One of the new friends he makes is William Henley, a writer…he would later become the model for Stevenson’s famous character Long John Silver
Stevenson Gets Sick and Well • Stevenson is still prone to coughs and chest colds • In 1873 he had a physical collapse and was sent to the French Riviera • He returned in better health in April 1874 • settled down to his studies, but he would often return to France in the coming years • He visited Paris galleries and theatres • He did qualify for the Scottish bar in 1875, but never practiced law • Concentrates on travel and writing. One of his journeys was a canoe voyage in Belgium and France
Stevenson Falls in Love! • Fanny is a divorced American with two children • Robert is head over heels!
Stevenson Seeks Out Fanny • Stevenson returned to Britain, but Fanny remained in his thoughts • In August 1878, Fanny returned to her home in San Francisco • A year later he set off to join her, against the advice of his friends and without notifying his parents • He took second class passage on the steamship, to save money, to learn how others travelled, and to increase the adventure • He travelled by train to California • His health was broken near Monterey • He was nursed back to health by some ranchers • By December 1879 he had recovered his health enough to continue to San Francisco, where for several months he struggled "all alone on forty-five cents a day • He found Fanny who nursed him back to health • His father heard of his condition and cabled him money
Marriage and Happiness • In 1880 Stevenson married Fanny; he said he was "a mere complication of cough and bones” • With his new wife and son, Lloyd, he travelled north of San Francisco to Napa Valley and spent a summer honeymoon at an abandoned mining camp • He met Charles Warren Stoddard, editor of the Overland Monthly,, who urged Stevenson to travel to the south Pacific and to write • In August 1880 he sailed with his new family from New York back to Britain • His new wife becomes part of the new family through her charm and wit
Stevenson Writes Treasure Island • Vacationing in the Scottish Highlands in 1881 • It’s a cold and rainy late-summer day • Stepson Lloyd “busy with a box of paints I happened to be tinting a map of an island I had drawn” • Stevenson began to add on to his map; he wrote Treasure Island
Stevenson dies at the age of 46 • Probably a cerebral hemorrhage • The islanders consider him one of their own
Pirates • Stevenson’s novel has guided our perception of pirates - one-legged pirate (his friend Henley) - rum - treasure maps with X - never met a pirate; learned a lot about sailing from his father and grandfather, lighthouse engineers
Not the first but maybe the best pirate story ever! • A great coming-of-age story! • Strong characters! • Action at every turn!
