The World of Robert Louis Stevenson

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 TRAVELS!!

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 and Family Live on the Island of Samoa

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!

Pirates of the 1700s and Modern Day