Robert Louis Stevenson: A Study of His Work and Writing Advice

“There are no stars so lovely as Edinburgh street-lamps.” - Robert Louis Stevenson

Today, on the 173rd anniversary of his birth, we’ll be examining the Edinburgh born writer Robert Louis Stevenson, a prolific Scottish author who was known for his extensive travels and his famous novels and essays. Sometimes called ‘the father of modern travel writing,’ Stevenson’s life was full of change, illness, and travel, and his writing, which had a unique, personal touch to it, shaped the future of travel writing and inspired many authors.

Stevenson’s Early Years

Robert Louis Stevenson was born on the 13th of November, 1850. He came from a long line of lighthouse engineers, lawyers, and ministers, and was expected to eventually find a career in one of those professions. Stevenson, who was an only child, suffered from illnesses throughout his life, and, unfortunately, much of his childhood was spent bedridden. Although he did not have a ‘normal’ childhood, this meant he had ample time to read and use his imagination. He bounced around from school to school, and was taught privately as a result of his illness. His family often traveled to warmer climates to relieve his symptoms, which heavily impacted his lungs. However, Stevenson developed a love of traveling that would last throughout his entire life, and from a young age this love of travel impacted his thoughts and writings. His first publication was at the age of 16– “The Pentland Rising: A Page of History,” which was about an unsuccessful uprising against the Scottish government in 1666– was paid for by his father, who supported his love of writing, yet still expected his son to take up one of the family businesses.

University Life

In 1867, at the age of 17, Stevenson began to attend the University of Edinburgh, studying engineering. However, he skipped many of his classes, and longed to focus on writing instead. By 1871, he came to an agreement with his parents that he would switch to studying law, which allowed him to have more time to dedicate to writing. His parents were very supportive of him, even though they knew he would have a harder time making money as a lawyer. He officially became an advocate (the term for lawyer in Scotland) in 1875, however he never once practiced law. Many of the experiences he had during university would later become inspiration for his essays. For example, he often traveled with his father to various lighthouses on the coast of Scotland, and he later penned “The Education of an Engineer: More Random Memories” in 1888, an essay where he recounts a trip he and his father took in 1868 to the top of Scotland. He wrote about how he had already made his mind up to be a writer, yet still found the engineering work (particularly the diving aspect of it) interesting and fun. His writing often showcased him examining his actions and emotions of particular memories, and he was very conscious of his levels of uncomfortableness and biases. It’s this unique, personal touch which allowed the reader to see and understand Stevenson on a level of intimacy that most authors do not allow.

Scottish Gothic

You cannot discuss Stevenson’s work without diving into the Scottish Gothic. During Stevenson’s lifetime, there was a surge in writings focused on the supernatural, and Edinburgh as a city went through a period of darker history at the same time. Readers can see that Stevenson pulled from the Scottish Gothic in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as well as some of his short stories, including “Thrawn Janet” (1881) and “The Merry Men” (1882). These texts all explored the dark, supernatural themes that made the Scottish Gothic writing so compelling. Some of the Gothic elements Stevenson used included death, doubling/division of self (as seen in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), possession, ghosts, and curses. These were all common themes at the time, as writers explored the dark parts of humanity and what made people scared and gave them nightmares. Stevenson’s Scottish Gothic writing is some of his best work, and his contributions to the genre should be on everyone's Halloween reading list.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Perhaps Stevenson’s most famous novel, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published January 9th, 1886. The publication of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde pushed Stevenson, who was already quite well known, into even more prominence within the literary community, and it is considered his “breakthrough novel” although he had already been publishing books for almost ten years. If you are not familiar with the novel (which is considered to be one of the most famous Gothic horror books), it follows the investigation of Gabriel John Utterson as he looks into a series of murders committed by a Mr. Hyde, and he soon realizes that there is a link between Mr. Hyde and his friend Dr. Jekyll, a scientist. It’s revealed at the end of the novel that Dr. Jekyll had been trying to separate the dark parts of himself and had created a potion which would enable Dr. Jekyll to turn into a monster, Mr. Hyde. However, he proved to be unable to control his other self, and he started transforming into Mr. Hyde without taking the potion. All of this is revealed in a letter to Mr. Utterson after Mr. Hyde commits suicide, killing Dr. Jekyll in the process. It’s an eerie, horrific read, and it is one of the most famous pieces of English literature. Even over 100 years after its publication, it still manages to shock and scare readers, which is an impressive feat.

Treasure Island

Treasure Island, another recognizable title from Stevenson, was published in 1883 on November 14, one day after his 33rd birthday. The novel follows a boy named Jim (likely in his mid teens) who happened to get his hands on a treasure map. The story that follows contains multiple mutinies, fights, and of course, in the end, treasure. However, Jim swears that he will never hunt for treasure again after his experience, and for the rest of his life has nightmares regarding the sea and treasure. Stevenson was inspired to write the novel after he and his stepson drew an imaginary map while on vacation. It’s often regarded as a coming of age novel, as Jim, who is initially spontaneous and impulsive, becomes more rational and wise as the story progresses. While Treasure Island is sometimes regarded as a children's book, it can really be enjoyed at any age, and some of the symbolism present may not be understood by children anyway. It is a classic for a reason: it is one of the best adventure novels out there.

Poems, Essays, and More

Although Stevenson is perhaps best known as a novelist, he also published five poetry collections. One of his most well known poetry collections is called “A Child’s Garden of Verses” which contains 66 poems and was published in 1885. It is a very intimate collection, as Stevenson recounts his childhood in detail, including the happier times of his travels as well as the times where he was confined to his bed, only able to use his imagination to travel. “An Apology For Idlers” discusses and defends those who find themselves idle during the day. He writes that being busy all the time is not good, and people should find the time to slow down and appreciate the beauty in being idle. To be idle is to notice what is around you; friends, family, weather, architecture, and so much more. It’s a compelling piece that rings true in the 21st century, as people today still find it hard to have time away from work in the digital age.

Later in life, Stevenson began to write non fiction pieces, such as A Footnote to History: Eight Years of Trouble in Samoa. Published in 1892, the book covers 90 years of history detailing the Samoan Civil War, and the United States, Britain, and Germany’s battle for power in the islands, and the ramifications this had for the indigenous community there. Stevenson moved to Samoa in 1889 and was passionate about protecting the history and the indigenous cultures there.

Writing Style & Advice

While at the University of Edinburgh, Stevenson began to take writing more seriously, and this led to him teaching himself to imitate authors who inspired him. This included the work of William Hazlitt (On The Pleasure of Hating) and Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe). As he continued to write and developed his own style, Stevenson’s work grew to take on a personal touch. He often included his own experiences and would recount conversations with strangers he had met, and he wasn’t afraid to poke fun at awkward situations or embarrassing moments he encountered. Many of his first volumes were a direct recount of adventures he had been on, and due to his extensive traveling and interesting life experiences, his writing was very knowledgeable.

Stevenson’s writing shows the reader how comfortable he is sharing his experiences with a wider audience, and it gives the illusion of knowing Stevenson himself, particularly when reading his accounts of his travels. His first travel book, An Inland Voyage, which was published in 1878, featured his memories from a walking tour as well as a canoe trip, and was focused on his thoughts and what he did on his travels. This kind of writing was unusual for the time. It was considered somewhat egotistical to write about yourself, but as time went on readers' perception on this kind of writing changed. Stevenson’s experiential writing in this way contributed to the future of travel writing immensely. His writing resembles that of a modern travel blog, and it is because of his travel books that the door opened for that kind of media. In addition to his revolutionary travel writing, Stevenson also had writing advice which still holds relevance today. His essay “Essays in The Art of Writing” from 1881 highlighted many technical aspects of writing he found to be essential. How words sound was extremely important to him, and he suggested that one should ensure the words being written have a particular rhythm to continue the flow of the story. He also advises that authors should leave the boring parts of a story out, and to get to the point– he warns against boring the readers. This advice in particular is useful to writers today, and particular screenwriters, where they must truly leave all the ‘boring’ pieces out of the script.

Stevenson’s Words Living On

Robert Louis Stevenson died on December 3, 1894, after a fatal stroke on the island of Samoa, where he spent his final years. Although he was already a famous author when he died, his works fell out of popularity in the early and mid 20th century, as others categorized him as a children's author (namely speaking of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Treasure Island) and disregarded his other works. However, the end of the 20th century brought his works back into popularity, and he is now highly regarded as an novelist, essayist, poet, and travel writer. He is on the list of the top 30 most translated authors, a testament to how in demand his work still is all over the world. He inspired many writers, such as Ernest Hemingway, Vladimir Nabokov, and Henry James. He has multiple museums and monuments dedicated to him in the United States, France, Samoa, and of course the United Kingdom, where in Edinburgh at the Writers Museum, there is an entire room dedicated to him. Stevenson surely deserves these memorials, as the impact he left on English literature is impressive. His classics continue to be read and analyzed time and time again, and his Scottish Gothic tales continue to send shivers down the spines of readers today. Stevenson was a man who loved adventure and all things writing, and he was a truly intriguing character. So today, in honor of his birthday, feel free to share your favorite Stevenson title, or perhaps you have been inspired to go and finally read one of his famous works.