Treasure Island [with Biographical Introduction] pdf Robert Louis Stevenson Free Download

He suffered more from a prolonged period of writer's block that he feared might end his career. During this period the normally prodigious Stevenson found nothing to write about. But as suddenly as his trouble came, it vanished. He began work on Weir of Hermiston, a work that he considered his finest. Sadly, it was to remain unfinished. On December 3, 1894 Stevenson worked dutifully on his novel as usual. While eating dinner with his wife that night he asked "Does my face look strange?" and collapsed. He died several hours later of what was likely a cerebral hemorrhage. He was only 44 at the time. Stevenson was given a proper Samoan burial at the top of a hill overlooking the sea. The engraving on his headstone is sung to this day as a Samoan song of grief.

Following his death, Stevenson's reputation took a precipitous decline. The modernist writers who preceded him had a low opinion of his stories of adventure and suspense. They considered his work to be little more than genre fiction written for little boys. Stevenson's reputation declined throughout the 20th century and reached its lowest point when he was excluded from the 2,000 page Norton Anthology of English Literature. His work did not appear in the anthology until 2006. Contemporary critics have not been as harsh on Stevenson. They have compared his famous novels to the prodigious amounts of writing he composed on other subjects and found a witty, observant and aesthetically adventurous writer. These same critics have also found much to appreciate in his most famous and most frequently dismissed works. And in spite of its critical decline, his popularity has never wavered. Children continue to read Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll remains a vibrant and dynamic character in our cultural milieu. There are not many writers that enjoy critical respect and popular resonance over 100 years after their death. Robert Louis Stevenson is one of them.

IAN CORREA

2011

TREASURE ISLAND

To S.L.O., an American gentleman in accordance with whose classic taste the following narrative has been designed, it is now, in return for numerous delightful hours, and with the kindest wishes, dedicated by his affectionate friend, the author.

TO THE HESITATING PURCHASER

If sailor tales to sailor tunes,

Storm and adventure, heat and cold,

If schooners, islands, and maroons,

And buccaneers, and buried gold,

And all the old romance, retold

Exactly in the ancient way,

Can please, as me they pleased of old,

The wiser youngsters of today:

—So be it, and fall on! If not,

If studious youth no longer crave,

His ancient appetites forgot,