The Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Background

Early Life:

• Born: 13 November 1850, Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Health: Suffered from respiratory problems throughout his life.
• Family: His father was an engineer and wanted him to follow the same career path.
• Education: He studied law at university to please his father but never practised it.

Writing Career:

• His legal knowledge influenced his writing, as seen in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
• Wrote various forms of literature, including poetry, essays, travel books, and novels.
• Famous Works: Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
• His books were widely read during his lifetime, and he is one of the 26 most translated authors in the world.

Personal Life and Travels:

• Travelled extensively, often in the company of young artists.
• Met his wife, Fanny, in France; later, she followed him to America, where they married.
• Spent his final years in Samoa.

Death:

• Died: 1894 at the age of 44 due to a brain haemorrhage.
• Stevenson's literary legacy remains influential, with Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde still being widely studied and adapted today.