Home from the Sea: Robert Louis Stevenson in Samoa

Robert Louis Stevenson, perhaps the most popular author of his time, spent the last six years of his life in the balmy climate of the Pacific Islands, where he wrote some of his finest books. A compulsive letter writer, R.L.S. left the world with a treasure trove of information about his travels, his interesting encounters with fascinating people, and the intense “personal” relationships he had developed with them. When his life touched others, they too, were drawn to document their feelings and experiences, further adding insight into his fascinating life. Here is an exotic, but factual account of the last two years in the life of “Tusitala”, the Scottish novelist who, chronically ill and exiling himself to the South Pacific, fought for justice on behalf of the Samoan people and won their hearts with his compassion and artistry. Originally written in German and subsequently translated, the Samoan edition by special arrangement with the publisher has been reprinted so that recent discoverers and old lovers of R.L.S. can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of his life and works.