Essays in the Art of Writing Illustrated eBook Robert Louis Stevenson Alba Longa
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Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), son of a joint-engineer to the Board of Northern Light-houses, was born in Edinburgh. He was admitted advocate in 1875, but had determined to be a writer. Fascinated by Edinburgh low life, he cultivated a Bohemian style. His first work of fiction, “Treasure Island” (1883) brought him fame, which increased with the publication of “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” (1886). This was followed by his popular Scottish romances “Kidnapped” (1886), “Catriona” (1893) and “The Master of Ballantrae”(1889). In 1888, Stevenson had set out with his family entourage for the South Seas, and finally settled in Samoa at Vailima, where he temporarily regained his health but died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage, while working on his unfinished masterpiece “Weir of Hermiston” (1896). He suffered from a chronic bronchial condition (possibly tuberculosis).
“Essays in the Art of Writing” (1905) contains seven essays, covering topics from the technical elements of style, to Stevenson’s literary influences, and the writing of his novels.
Essays in the Art of Writing Illustrated eBook Robert Louis Stevenson Alba Longa
I was led to this book by reading Andrew Lang's reflections on Robert Louis Stevenson in his Adventures Among Books. Lang was enamored by Stevenson's writing, as am I. However, a lot of Stevenson's own writing about writing left me less than satisfied. I didn't find the TOC in this edition for Kindle to be active (although a previous one did); however, the footnotes are.The first chapter, "On Some Technical Elements of Style in Literature," was perhaps the most practical for writers, but it was almost as tedious to read as the essay's title suggests. Other essays, like "Books Which Have Influenced Me," were far more interesting in helping to uncover how Stevenson's thinking was shaped by a few important authors. "Not all men can read all books," he wrote, "it is only in a chosen few that any man will find his appointed food." In the essay, "A Note on Realism," Stevenson discusses the change in literature in his day, the move away from idealism to realism. There is a danger in realism, he cautions, of sacrificing beauty and significance while pursuing the passion missing in idealism. "Breathing as we do the intellectual atmosphere of our age, we are more apt to err upon the side of realism than to sin in quest of the ideal."
That last 3 essays in this volume move away from technical and obscure information about writing to useful discussions about 2 of his own books. The essay about his first novel, and my favorite, Treasure Island, was very enjoyable. I was surprised to learn that what began as a map he drew of an imaginary island grew to be the adventure story that has influenced practically all other pirate stories. He claims to have taken inspiration for his characters from numerous literary sources. But the plot was rooted in his map. The concluding chapters are about another of his novels, The Master of Ballantrae. The first of these concerns the genesis of story. The last chapter is the make-believe preface he added to the second edition of the novel.
Altogether, these 7 essays, some more helpful or more appealing than others, reveal the sources and processes Stevenson and other writers use. While there is some help here in understanding the mind of this great writer, the general audience may not find a great deal of pleasure in them. Better for most of us just to jump right into reading his classic stories.
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Essays in the Art of Writing Illustrated eBook Robert Louis Stevenson Alba Longa Reviews
candid insight into RLS's development as a writer and storyteller. Entertaining but thoughtful way of seeing into a writer's way of working. Gives an appreciation of the skill of writing, and also the skill and delight of reading.
A very good read. Thank you!
There are many great writers today, but when you have the guidance from on of the world's masters in your own home, well it just can't be beat in my opinion!
Learned something new.
Good
If this is really Essays in the Art of Writing by Robert Louis Stevenson (Author), how on earth was thee a heading "WEB" about a tenth of the way into this wordy account about nothing other that a few good quotes padded out with aimless verbal wanderings?
I really don't have much to say about this, except that the essays collected here are very much of their time. Which, I suppose, says something about the more contemporary books on writing I've read are they very much of our time? Do any of them represent timeless truths about writing?
For example, Stevenson goes off on the dialogue of "realism," suggesting that dialogue in fiction should be more, well, elegant. And I get that when it works, as in for example, Jack Vance's work, it's beautiful. But I also like dialogue that sounds like something somebody could actually say in the circumstances.
Probably the most entertaining-to-me essay here is the one on the birth of "Treasure Island." It seems that RLS started with a map and wrote based on it. He wrote it for family, reading it at a chapter a night. And his original title was "The Sea Cook," which is quite accurate but decidedly less exciting.
I was led to this book by reading Andrew Lang's reflections on Robert Louis Stevenson in his Adventures Among Books. Lang was enamored by Stevenson's writing, as am I. However, a lot of Stevenson's own writing about writing left me less than satisfied. I didn't find the TOC in this edition for to be active (although a previous one did); however, the footnotes are.
The first chapter, "On Some Technical Elements of Style in Literature," was perhaps the most practical for writers, but it was almost as tedious to read as the essay's title suggests. Other essays, like "Books Which Have Influenced Me," were far more interesting in helping to uncover how Stevenson's thinking was shaped by a few important authors. "Not all men can read all books," he wrote, "it is only in a chosen few that any man will find his appointed food." In the essay, "A Note on Realism," Stevenson discusses the change in literature in his day, the move away from idealism to realism. There is a danger in realism, he cautions, of sacrificing beauty and significance while pursuing the passion missing in idealism. "Breathing as we do the intellectual atmosphere of our age, we are more apt to err upon the side of realism than to sin in quest of the ideal."
That last 3 essays in this volume move away from technical and obscure information about writing to useful discussions about 2 of his own books. The essay about his first novel, and my favorite, Treasure Island, was very enjoyable. I was surprised to learn that what began as a map he drew of an imaginary island grew to be the adventure story that has influenced practically all other pirate stories. He claims to have taken inspiration for his characters from numerous literary sources. But the plot was rooted in his map. The concluding chapters are about another of his novels, The Master of Ballantrae. The first of these concerns the genesis of story. The last chapter is the make-believe preface he added to the second edition of the novel.
Altogether, these 7 essays, some more helpful or more appealing than others, reveal the sources and processes Stevenson and other writers use. While there is some help here in understanding the mind of this great writer, the general audience may not find a great deal of pleasure in them. Better for most of us just to jump right into reading his classic stories.
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