The Quest for Robert Louis Stevenson

by John Cairney

Overview

In The Quest for Robert Louis Stevenson John Cairney offers an original perspective on Scotland's finest writer of English prose, examining the intimate relationships in the fascinating life of Robert Louis Stevenson, and their often destructive effects on his personality and work.

During his many travels in search of health, Stevenson gathered not only a literary fame but also an extended family of hangers-on. Years of restless wandering led him finally to tropical Samoa, where he found wellbeing and a release of the passionate potential that had been in him from his chilly beginnings in Edinburgh. But as he came into his own as a writer, his wife, Fanny Osbourne, retreated into paranoia and eccentric behaviour and lost him his final chance to find real happiness.

A compelling read, The Quest for Robert Louis Stevenson sheds new light on the complicated life of the man behind the famous stories - Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Kidnapped.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781842820858
Publisher:	Luath Press, Limited
Publication date:	02/01/2008
Series:	Quest For Series
Pages:	260
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Dr John Cairney lives in Auckland with his wife Alannah O'Sullivan, and together they form the Pennyfarthing Partnership. John returns to Scotland on a regular basis. He made his stage debut at the tender age of 17 and has been acting ever since. He has adapted Burns for theatrical productions for decades, and performed for radio, television, in film, on stage, in musicals, as well as producing video and audio recordings of the Bard. He has toured his one-man show and was awarded a PhD for his work on Stevenson. Previous titles include On The Trail of Robert Burns, Immortal Memories and The Luath Burns Companion.

Table of Contents

Introduction     IX
Grit and Grace     1
A Daft-like Laddie     13
Love, What is Love?     27
The Reluctant Advocate     43
The Illogical Adventure     59
A Steady Determination     71
Marriage in extremis     79
Child of Air     89
A Shilling Shocker     103
Divided Loyalties     113
Such Beautiful Scenes     125
A Very Meaningful Relationship     137
The Breakthrough     149
The Speaking Chief     159
Less Afraid of a Petticoat     167
Against the Tide     173
Postscript     187
A Stevenson Chronology     193
Bibliography     201