R. L. STEVENSON

SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

Robert Louis Stevenson Life and Works

R. L. STEVENSON

SOME SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT HIS LIFE

r. L. STEVENSON: LEGENDARY AUTHOR AND GIGANTIC COCAINE ADDICT

The creative life of Stevenson was relatively brief. In fact, he was already in his thirties by the time he achieved literary success with his epic novel, Treasure Island. Surprisingly, he was a regular user of cocaine. In fact, he was on a cocaine binge when he wrote The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

r. l. sTEVENSON WAS IN POOR HEALTH FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE

Stevenson is known to have acquired just about every disease that was prevalent in the 19th century, most notably tuberculosis, which he contracted at a young age. His frequent journeys to some of the world's most exotic destinations also exposed him to pneumonia, bronchitis, malaria, etc. In the end, he died quite suddenly, probably of a stroke because of his chronic smoking, alcohol, coffee and consumption, poor diet and drug abuse.

stevenson spent time in california in pursuit of his future wife

On one of his journeys to France he met Frances Osbourne, a married but separated American woman who was living in Paris studying art with her two children. When Frances left Paris to go back to the USA, Stevenson followed her to California to pursue the relationship. After a voyage across the Atlantic and a train ride across the US, Stevenson's poor health deteriorated even further. Initially torn between her unfaithful husband and her broke but persistent suitor, Fanny Osbourne ultimately decided to marry Stevenson in San Francisco in 1880.

STEVENSON HAD A DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PARENTS

Stevenson was constantly at odds with his parents over his professional life. They were deeply concerned by his behaviour, which they considered to be godless and self-destructive. In fact, Stevenson embraced Atheism and lived his life as a vagabond. Stevenson's father was a civil engineer and lighthouse designer who was deeply distressed when his son showed no interest in following in his footsteps.

stevenson wrote treasure island under a pseudonym

This was Stevenson's first major literary success. Originally conceived from a map that he had drawn for his young stepson about a fictional island, Stevenson began to develop a children's story from it about pirates and buried treasures. A literary journal for boys called Young Folks agreed to publish it weekly, but Stevenson was concerned about the work's reception and published it under the pseudonym of "Captain George North".

sTEVENSON DIED IN SAMOA AND WAS BURIED THERE WITH GREAT RESPECT

Stevenson first travelled to Samoa with his wife in 1889. He was so impressed by the region that he immediately purchased 300 acres of land and built a two-storey house. Unfortunately, life there was austere and conditions were arsh.Stevenson's remains overlook the Pacific Ocean and when his wife died in Santa Barbara (California) in 1914, her ashes were taken to the island and buried next to her husband.

"For my part, i travel not to go anywhere, but to go. i travel for travel's sake. the great affair is to move"

R. L. Stevenson

Brief summary of the novel Treasure Island (book form published in 1883)

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