Robert Louis Stevenson

Photo in header: Robert Louis Stevenson by James Notman albumen cabinet card, 1890-1894 NPG x39714 © National Portrait Gallery, London

13 Nov 1850 – 3 Dec 1894

Robert was a Scottish novelist and travel writer, most noted for Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and A Child’s Garden of Verses. 

Robert suffered from serious bronchial trouble for much of his life, but continued to write prolifically and travel widely, in defiance of his poor health. 

He spent several years in search of a location suited to his health, which included visitors to Torquay. The visit to Torquay left an impression as Robert used the town as a location in a collection of linked short stories ‘More New Arabian Nights: The Dynamiter’ (1885) written in collaboration with his wife, Fanny Vandegrift. The letter below was sent to his parents during one stay, clearly the Bank of Mum & Dad is not a new phenomenon! 

2 Sulyarde Terrace, Torquay, Thursday 

[April 1866].

Respected paternal relative,

I write to make a request of the most moderate nature. Every year I have cost you an enormous – nay, elephantine – sum of money for drugs and physician’s fees, and the most expensive time of the twelve months was March.

But this year the biting Oriental blasts, the howling tempests, and the general ailments of the human race have been successfully braved by yours truly.

Does not this deserve remuneration?

I appeal to your charity, I appeal to your generosity, I appeal to your justice, I appeal to your accounts, I appeal, in fine, to your purse.

My sense of generosity forbids the receipt of more – my sense of justice forbids the receipt of less – than half-a-crown. Greeting from, Sir, your most affectionate and needy son,

R. Stevenson

Link to Robert Louis Stevenson, Sing Me a Song of a Lad that is Gone: https://www.poetryarchive.org/poet/robert-louis-stevenson

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