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A Footnote to History: Eight Years of Trouble in Samoa
The noted author gives an eyewitness account of the battle of three Western nations--Britain, the United States, and Germany--for control of Samoa.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1892
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About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson
6,661 books6,879 followersRobert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of English literature. He was greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling and Vladimir Nabokov.
Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.
Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 19, 2014
RLS lived in Samoa for many years and wrote this report on its people and their then recent history. Most of it took place in the now independent country of Samoa, but I have chosen it for American Samoa because it shows the start of how it became American.
He wrote in a hurry to explain the situation and he took witness statements from people concerned. It is very readable and he sometimes has a tongue-in-cheek attitude when describing various schemes and machinations by the non-Samoans. He is generally sympathetic towards the natives and explains their actions in the context of their culture. I can't say the US come out of this particularly well, but neither do many others.
He wrote in a hurry to explain the situation and he took witness statements from people concerned. It is very readable and he sometimes has a tongue-in-cheek attitude when describing various schemes and machinations by the non-Samoans. He is generally sympathetic towards the natives and explains their actions in the context of their culture. I can't say the US come out of this particularly well, but neither do many others.
September 21, 2013
Fascinating in detail, a snapshot of a particular corner of the world in tremendous focus. A must for a modern historian.
March 23, 2021
Very good, with some striking set piece moments such as the description of the hurricane. As with his historical fiction, Stevenson is able to bring the events of long ago vividly to life.
January 12, 2012
This was at times tedious, but overall was very insightful into a culture and the history of this region.
February 23, 2013
Fascinating! I want to travel to Samoa now.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews