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Vailima Letters: Being Correspondence Addressed to Sidney Colvin, November 1890-October 1894
textbook
2 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1895
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About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson
6,947 books7,020 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 18, 2019
Vailima Letters; Being Correspondence Addressed by Robert Louis Stevenson to Sidney Colvin, November, 1890-October 1894 by Robert Louis Stevenson document the last four years of their author's life. Vailima ("Five Rivers") is the name of RLS's estate in Samoa, not far from Apia.
As his health declined, Stevenson did not let up on his writing activity, composing such novels as Catriona, The Ebb Tide, Weir of Hermiston (unfinished), and St. Ives, as well as the collection of stories titled Island Night's Entertainment.
At the same time as he suffered multiple attacks of fever, hemorrhages, and influenza, he got actively involved in the politics of the archipelago. During his time in Samoa, there was a low-level civil war between two chiefs. Despite the risk of being deported, Stevenson supported the losing side, led by one Mataafa.
At times, the letters dwell on the political mess, problems with manuscripts, social obligations with the European and native residents. Other times, they rise to the level of pure poetry. On August 23, 1893, he writes:
As his health declined, Stevenson did not let up on his writing activity, composing such novels as Catriona, The Ebb Tide, Weir of Hermiston (unfinished), and St. Ives, as well as the collection of stories titled Island Night's Entertainment.
At the same time as he suffered multiple attacks of fever, hemorrhages, and influenza, he got actively involved in the politics of the archipelago. During his time in Samoa, there was a low-level civil war between two chiefs. Despite the risk of being deported, Stevenson supported the losing side, led by one Mataafa.
At times, the letters dwell on the political mess, problems with manuscripts, social obligations with the European and native residents. Other times, they rise to the level of pure poetry. On August 23, 1893, he writes:
You will see that I am not in a good humour; and I am not. It is not because of your letter, but because of the complicated miseries that surround me and that I choose to say nothing of. Life is not all Beer and Skittles. The inherent tragedy of things works itself out from white to black and blacker, and the poor things of a day look ruefully on. Does it shake my cast-iron faith? I cannot say it does. I believe in an ultimate decency of things; ay, and if I woke in hell, should still believe it! But it is hard walking, and I can see my own share in the missteps, and can bow my head to the result, like an old, stern, unhappy devil of a Norseman, as my ultimate character is. . . .
August 20, 2008
I read these letters with great zest when I was a boy, and I'd have to say they've left an indelible mark on me even now, 35 years later. They reveal a side to Stevenson that his novels do not and perhaps are the best insight into this somewhat enigmatic author I have ever run across.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews