Robert Louis Stevens Essay Research Paper Robert

Robert Louis Stevens Essay, Research Paper

Robert Louis Stevenson began writing during the Victorian era. His style was unlike anyone else s and his stories are still popular today. Robert Louis Stevenson was an author of many classic novels and his literary success became popular when he wrote the mystery called The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

in 1886 at the young age of thirty-six. He was born on November 13, 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father Thomas, was a builder of lighthouses. His mother Margaret came from a family of lawyers and church ministers. Robert chose not to follow in either of his parent s footsteps. Instead, writing became his passion. Robert s childhood was plagued with sickness and fever with symptoms of tuberculosis. As a result, regular schooling became difficult, (Cyclopedia of World Authors, 1927). According to Magills Survey of World Literature Stevenson didn t learn to read until he was 7 years old, but he enjoyed stories told to him by his father of adventure. This enabled Robert s imagination to grow and he created his own tales. His father was proud of him, but afraid his only son would not succeed in life. His father suggested law school just incase his writing did not succeed. He graduated, but he never practiced law, (1854). Instead, he wanted to travel for adventure and to find good health.

Robert Louis Stevenson began his travels in 1870. In the Life and Works of Robert Louis Stevenson, written by Richard Dury, Dury claims Stevenson first went to France, where he met Fanny Osbourne, an American lady. Stevenson traveled all throughout France, which inspired him to write An Inland Voyage, his first published work. His career as a writer developed slowly, but he continued to have a keen eye for human observation. His own insight into the nature of mankind and human suffering are displayed in his works. The Amateur Emigrant (published in 1894) and The Silverado Squatters (published in 1883) were stories written as a result of his journey to California to marry Fanny. Stevenson traveled back to Scotland after suffering a near death illness in Monterey, (http://www.unibg.it/rls/bio.htm. pg. 1 of 5). It was in the year 1883, he wrote one of his greatest novels, Treasure Island, after playing an imaginary game with his stepson, (Cyclopedia of World Authors, 1928). Stevenson s experiences and his imagination inspired his writings, but other writers also affected him.

Stevenson had many good friends who were influential in his life. Sidney Colvin was a critic and a mentor to Stevenson and would review his works with praise. Colvin reviewed Stevenson s book, An Inland Voyage, in 1878, and claimed the author is a brilliant and entertaining writer with both gifts and promise, as cited by Harris and Fitzgerald in Nineteenth- Century Literature Criticism, (386-387). Henry James was truly Stevenson s closest friend and admirer, as stated in a critical essay written in 1887 by James, where he defends Stevenson s writing from Mr. Archer. James says, Mr. Stevenson s jauntiness is essential to his genius. ( Harris, Laurie & Fitzgerald, Shelia; Nineteenth Century Literature Criticism, 401-403). Though critics praised Stevenson for his works, his books did not support him financially, until he wrote The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While in California, Stevenson became ill and his father would send him money. He helped support Stevenson until his success of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, This success gave him a contract with Charles Scribner s Son s in 1887, (Encyclopedia Britannica 240). That same year his father died leaving Stevenson his inheritance. He used the money to finance a trip to Samoa to better his health. In later years, he and his wife built their own home on the island of Upolu. He quickly became involved in local politics. It would soon take up all of his time (Magill, Frank; Magill s Survey 1855-56). On December 3, 1894 Robert Louis Stevenson died of a cerebral hemorrhage, not from tuberculosis. During his last years his writing style matured, (Magill, Frank; Cyclopedia of World Authors 1928) and he became a well-known author of his time.

Robert Louis Stevenson s classic novels are still popular today, because his writing style is direct and creative. He writes for the reader s imagination and not in the critical pantheon (Magill s Survey 1856). His themes are adventure stories, ex; Treasure Island and Kidnapped and mystery novels, ex; The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Henry James essay written in 1887 claims for the most part Stevenson s books are without women and it is not women who fall in love with them . According to Magill s Survey of World Literature, Stevenson is a moralist. His novels always seem to examine themes of what is right and what is wrong, as well as, good verses evil in the character of mankind. He tells his stories with a deceptive straightforwardness and with vividness of the incidents, and fascinating complexity of the character s personalities (1857). Stevenson s stories are told by a narrator(s) who introduce the reader to the main character. We learn about the complex personality of the main character and his life through a third person. The protagonist is always on an adventure through life struggling with moral issues, (Magill s Survey 1857). Steven