The Amateur Emigrant

by Robert Louis Stevenson, Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne Stevenson (Preface)

This is the sparkling record of the haphazard six-thousand-mile odyssey that twenty-five-year-old Stevenson made in pursuit of his future wife, Fanny. The two had met and fallen in love during a trip to France, but when Fanny's first husband called her home to California, Stevenson soon followed from Scotland. The sickly Stevenson first made a turbulent Atlantic crossing, like so many nineteenth-century immigrants, as a steerage passenger in a steamer of dubious seaworthiness. After a frenetic stopover in New York City, he embarked on a two-week, three-thousand-mile trip across the continent—the fastest and cheapest way then possible—by emigrant train. Finally arriving in the frontier town of San Francisco to win Fanny over, he was quickly captivated by California. Stevenson's often hilarious impressions of the young country, its rambunctious and colorful inhabitants, and the still-untamed continent are among his most vivid writings. "This lighthearted book is the result of a very difficult journey, one that almost killed him."—Paul Theroux

Genres: Travel, Classics, Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1879

About the author

Robert 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.

Reviews

[lise.charmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Emigrante per diletto" Stevenson racconta il suo viaggio per nave dalla Scozia agli Stati Uniti, proseguito poi via treno fino a San Francisco nel testo "Attraverso le pianure" contenuto nello stesso volume. Con l'acume e la bonomia che lo caratterizzano, Stevenson racconta soprattutto i personaggi che ha la ventura di incontrare, più dei paesaggi e riflette sulla natura umana che gli sembra la stessa a qualsiasi latitudine. E' una lettura piacevole, ma non si limita a intrattenere il lettore con i suoi aneddoti: le riflessioni che fa sono profonde e autentiche, il che le rende attuali e fondamentalmente senza tempo.

[Gianni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due racconti che narrano il viaggio, in nave e in treno, che porta Stevenson da Glasgow a S. Francisco. Stevenson si mostra attento, curioso, a tratti anche ironico, capace di riflessioni critiche sulla natura umana e sulla società, sulle motivazioni che spingono moltitudini di uomini, donne, vecchi e bambini a lasciare tutto per spostarsi in luoghi lontani; niente di epico, alla fine, ”fu solo quando mi trovai coinvolto nella sconfitta che cominciai a comprendere quanto dura fosse stata la battaglia. Eravamo una compagnia di reietti: l’ubriacone, l’incompetente, il debole, lo scialacquatore, e chi era stato incapace di avere la meglio sulle contingenze nel proprio paese, stavano ora pietosamente fuggendo in un altro, e se anche uno o due avrebbero potuto farcela, tutti gli altri avevano già fallito.”
Attraverso le pianure, il secondo dei due racconti, è, a mio avviso, magistrale; è la seconda parte del viaggio, quella in treno verso l’Ovest, da New York a S. Francisco verso una speranza, una possibilità, che sono solo interiori perché ”non esisteva alcuna El Dorado, da nessuna parte.”
Ed è qui che Stevenson coglie lucidamente i tratti del razzismo dei poveri, che si manifesta soprattutto nei confronti dei cinesi e dei nativi americani, ”sembrava che non li avessero mai guardati, mai ascoltati o che non avessero mai pensato a loro, li odiavano a priori. I mongoli erano i loro nemici in quel crudele e infido campo di battaglia che è il mercato […] Tempo fa era l’irlandese, ora è il cinese che se ne deve andare. Così si grida a gran voce. Dopotutto nessun paese è tenuto a subire l’immigrazione più di quanto ciò avvenga per un’invasione; in entrambe è guerra all’ultimo sangue e la resistenza è legittima difesa.”
Che cosa ci ricorda?

[Ciara Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a whole lot happens during Stevenson's trip from Scotland to San Francisco, but he does find quite a bit to say about the six thousand mile journey. Mostly, he complains, but I like the way he complains. The Amateur Emigrant is a witty 19th century travelogue full of first-hand descriptions and candid observations.

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

A memoir of emigrating to California. RLS is admirably broad in his sympathies.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because I've always enjoyed Stevenson's fiction, and I'd heard this account of his trip across the United States in 1879 was an outstanding example of travel writing. It is indeed that, but not quite in the way that I expected. His trip was originally documented in three separate publications: The Amateur Emigrant, Across the Plains, and The Silvarado Squatters, which were originally published out of sequence. The Amateur Emigrant wasn't published until after his death due to its potential to bring Stevenson into disrepute. Even then, was controversial due to what was then perceived to be too frank and graphic an account of the lower classes.

The version I read is the DaCapo Press 2002 paperback, which includes The Amateur Emigrant, Across the Plains, but not The Silvarado Squatters. The first section takes up about 60% of the book, and covers his ten days of sea passage from Scotland to New York. The second section covers his train trip from New York to San Francisco. There, the story abruptly ends, without the section of his time in California. So, what one gets is a highly detailed picture of what a typical emigrant to America of the time might go through to get there. It's an interesting portrait of shipboard society and train etiquette but not quite what I was expecting. He has much to say on his fellow travelers, and displays a sharp eye for the mannerism or words that betray a person's true character. But on the whole, I'd say it's probably of limited interest to the modern reader, save those with greater than average interest in immigration to early Gilded Age America.

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and have read it twice. It's a wonderful (and true) depiction of life in mid 19th century America, as Stevenson travels across the country by train to join his new bride in San Francisco. Please try it - it's not very long, and very good value for the time spent

[Renée]

Really happy that i dont have to reread this

[Amelia Wally · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with all of his other books, Stevenson's gentle, insightful and, for me, witty writing style is the star centrepiece here. Actually, the amount of writing dedicated to certain parts of his journey seemed a bit disproportionate to their level of interest at times. However, Stevenson's description of the people he meets are always thoughful, humble and intriguing, giving you an almost eerily deep insight into the daily lives, trials, tribulations, beauties and defects of real individuals from the time period.

[Tracie Sneed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the 1984 edition with introduction by Jonathan Raban. As John Raban remarks, 'it is the best book he ever wrote--a marvelous piece of writing, lakelike in its lucidity and depth, a genuine original. Can't think of a better book to read to become re-acquainted with the 19th century emigrant experience than Stevenson's keen exposition.

[natura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno, una grata sorpresa. No solo es un retrato de los más diversos tipos que encontró en la travesía, revela también la personalidad del autor: su empatía, su sensibilidad, la capacidad de observación... Sus certeras reflexiones sobre los más diversos temas nos dan una idea clara de lo buena persona que era y de su buen criterio.

[Todd Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly a toe-tapper, this book was at least interesting from a historical perspective. This journey took place in 1867; my great-great grandfather emigrated in 1868. Had to be similar circumstances for him.

[dOnnabud · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Stevenson's insights into emigration and his initial impressions upon arriving in and traveling across the U.S. in 1879.

Fanny Stevenson's preface is well-written, and enlightened my understanding of her husband's character.

Some favorite passages:
"We were a company of the rejected; the drunken, the incompetent, the weak, the prodigal, all who had been unable to prevail against circumstances in the one land, were now fleeing pitifully to another; and though one or two might still succeed, all had already failed. We were a shipful of failures, the broken men of England. ... The scene, on the contrary, was cheerful. All were full of hope for the future, and showed an inclination to innocent gaiety." page 15-16

"...'All's well!' I know nothing, whether for poetry or music, that can surpass the effect of these two syllables in the darkness of a night at sea." page 20

"As far as I saw, drink, idleness, and incompetency were the three great causes of emigration, and for all of them, and drink first and foremost, this trick of getting transported overseas appears to me the silliest means of cure." page 40

"...I had asked the name of a river from the brakesman, and heard that it was called the Susquehanna, the beauty of the name seemed to be part and parcel of the beauty of the land." page 120

"None can care for literature in itself who do not take a special pleasure in the sound of names; and there is no part of the world where nomenclature is so rich, poetical, humorous, and picturesque as the United States of America. All times, races, and languages have brought their contribution." page 120

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Robert Louis Stevenson’s journey from Europe to San Francisco. It is written more like someone sitting and talking of their journey, which I can appreciate. I loved hearing bits of history and culture from his trip.

One little tiny tid bit I loved from this book was when he has in the western United States he explained the bit system of currency. This lead to a fun discussion with the kids about currency and the old time traditions of my family. They realized Grandpa still used the term 2 bits and now they understand it better.

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been on my shelf for a number of years and I kept passing over it. I decided that is was time to read it. It is a travel documentary by the man who wrote Kidnapped and The strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Stevenson writes about sailing on an English steamship in accommodations a step up from steerage class. After he lands in New York he travels to California by rail car, In a lot of ways, the reader is reading his diary. He writes of the common people he meets, and in doing so he engages in a good deal of social criticism.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stevenson as a travel writer is pursuing his future wife "Fanny" that he met in France. Some witty observations of passengers in steerage and interesting account of his travels from NY to California to win Fanny again. Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan is a book of fiction about this romance.

[Charles Nielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty and fun. At times a bit boring, but regularly punctuated by insight and amusing anecdotes. Attitudes towards race and class remarkable for its time. Perhaps the only reference to Toano, NV (now a ghost town) in modern literature. Reminiscent of Park’s “The Oregon Trail”, written several decades earlier.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at Stevenson's sea journey from the Clyde to Sandy Hook in 1878-80. He was a close, kind observer of his fellow passengers in steerage and the record he left is still well worth reading. Broke, seasick, disenfranchised people, they had the verve and sense of camaraderie to spend hours singing as they crossed the Atlantic! Hurrying on to read Across the Plains about his further journey to California as well....

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the Librivox audiobook which only includes the leg from Scotland to New York. I enjoyed this account of Stevenson's travels and hope I can find the books with the remaining legs of his journey.

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stevenson's account of his emigration to the United States. He had plenty to say about the people he encountered on the ship and in the last chapter, the people in New York. All in all, rather boring.

[Sneh Pradhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing , you can slip beautifully into and cuddle with !!!!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

66

[Noelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only read about half. Just couldn’t get into it.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memoir by Stevenson about traveling from Scotland to the United States. Enjoyable.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is good, but this story of RLS's emigration to America didn't capture my interest as I thought it would. I confess, the most enjoyable parts were those where he talked about his new country and its inhabitants from his English point of view. Because, as an American, it's all about me, right?

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened. In 1879 29-year-old RLS traveled from Scotland to San Francisco and wrote about the experience. He wasn't famous yet, and he was very poor, so he wrote from the perspective and experiences of most poor immigrants, which makes his account valuable. He wrote an empassioned defense of Native Americans and couldn't abide unkindness.

[Ellen Fetu · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it was, a travel journal, excellent read. Wished I would have had an English colleague with me, as there were quite a few very English and old expressions and terms which I did not recognize. If one ever wondered what travel by ocean steamer and then cross-country train in 1880 was like, reader is given a detailed account. That was very interesting.

[Kimbolimbo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to this book on Librivox.org. The reader was very hard to understand and she made the book BORING. I bet it would be a much more interesting book to actually read. Unfortunately I have no desire to try and read this book again.

[C A. M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ameno de leer.
A veces me echaba para atrás leer un libro que relatara un viaje personal, pero la verdad es que he disfrutado éste de Stevenson. Tiene una segunda parte que pronto leeré y le daré la oportunidad a Crónica personal de Conrad que tengo hace mucho guardado XD
Recomendado!

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I attempted to read this book but it was way to boring.

[Jayme Pendergraft · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story about Stevenson's trip across the Atlantic, including his views on the people on board the ship and the people of New York. Kind of a boring account, but a very quick read.