Product Description
The author of Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is known all over the world as a master storyteller, yet his achievements as a poet have been strangely neglected. This book reveals how much we have been missing. Fascinated by a wide variety of verse techniques, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94) produced superb work in styles ranging from folk ballads to witty conversational offerings for his friends. Pieces using Robert Burns's stanza form and dialect rank among the most attractive Scots poetry of the nineteenth century. Angus Calder has brought together many uncollected poems, substantial extracts from the published collections and the complete Child's Garden of Verse (1885), an extraordinarily evocative picture of childhood loneliness, visions and fears. Far more than in his famous novels, it was here that Stevenson felt able to give direct expression to his deepest feelings about friendship, love and nostalgia; this definitive anthology captures a compelling and utterly individual voice. ... Read more

Product Description
In South Sea Tales Stevenson shows himself to be a virtuoso of narrative styles.But beyond their generic diversity the stories are linked by their concern with representing the multiracial society of which their author had become a member.In this collection--the first to bring together all his shorter Pacific fiction in one volume--Stevenson emerges as a witness both to the cross-cultural encounters of nineteenth-century imperialism and to the creation of the global culture which characterizes the post-colonial world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Robert Louis Stevenson will be allways considered one of the best novelists of the world
I'm read "Treasure Island" at my childhood, when I were eight years old.
As I'ma writing a book named "Real and imginaries islands", focusing 20 famous islands mentioned at the Universal literature, the island of Stevenson is the first commented in my book. A new readinggave me the chance to meet again Long John Silver with his parrot "Captain Flint"and Jim Hawkins. The mature man and the child were once more next, and I' had a great plesure to read again this novel. Sighting the cronology of Robert Louis Stevenson,I see that there is 120 yearsfrom his depart from San Francisco, California, aboard the "Casco", for the South Seas. And i can affirm that "In the South Seas" is a marvellous descriptionof this part of the world. The "South Sea Tales", assembling "The Beach of Falesa", "Thee Bottle IMP", "The Isle of Voices" and "The Ebb-Tide" isa beautiful book and in it, the author has denoucen the action of europeans and north-americans at the South Seasas a disastrous interfering on the culture of the native peoples of the islands of Pacific Ocean, with the goal to domaine them and to take their lands. The courageous words of Robert Louis Stevenson denouncing the merchants and the missionaries as factors to serve the economic interests of Europa ean North Americashows as R.L. Stevenson were capable to see the real motifs of their presence at that region. The reading of "South SeaTales"give us the chance to underatandthe right History of the Pacific. It's a pleasure to read "South Sea Tales".

OK for mixed Stevenson Island Literature
I agree with Mr. Coppedge.RLS's "island literature" is uneven, as a read of this book will reveal.For a real treat, read his "In the South Seas".Now that is a treasure.

Stevenson's retelling of Pacific island legends & stories
Towards the end of Robert Louis Stevenson's life in the late 1880's, he had to move to the Pacific islands for his health.He managed to visit many of the most famous locales while there, including Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, the Gilberts, the Marshalls, and many besides these.He listened to and recorded both native legends and sailors' stories, besides creating a few original stories of his own.



The book contains the following stories:The Beach of Falesa, The Bottle Imp, The Isle of Voices, The Ebb-Tide: A Trio and Quartette, and two very short stories.The book also contains a very lengthy literary overview and critique of Stevenson's work, which I would recommend skipping until after you've read the book.Thankfully, it also contains a map, which you will repeatedly refer to.



The Beach of Falesa is about a European trader (Wiltshire) who takes up residence in the fictitious island of Falesa, whereupon he is hoodwinked by a fellow European (Case) into buying a worthless business and marrying an untouchable girl.Wiltshire then determines to unseat Case from his position of dominance among the natives, so he (Wiltshire) can make good on his business and restore his wife Uma to respectibility.This story like the others that follow are true character studies of both human weakness and resolve.



The Bottle Imp is the story of a native Hawaiian who gets his genie in a bottle to grant him his wishes.But though his wishes are made true and he wins the heart of the girl of his dreams, he becomes both arrogant and cursed with leprosy.He is believed to be a devil by his neighbors.Forced into exile with a wife who believes that he doesn't love her, he desperately seeks out the genie once more to cure his illness.Then he can be with her again, but at the price of external damnation.Or is there still a way out?



The Isle of Voices is also a story about greed and lust.One young Hawaiian man (Keola) yearns for a native girl, but lacks the material wealth for a comfortable marriage.So his girlfriend's father magically takes him to the mysterious and frightful Isle of Voices where treasure lies at his feet simply waiting to be picked up.Not sated with slight and trivial wealth, Keola determines to treacherously seize a vast fortune despite being ominously forbidden by the father.However, Keola's plan is overturned, and he is doomed to learn the secret of the Isle of Voices.



The Ebb-Tide is about three washed up derelict sailors of varying criminal aptitudes who take up the job of delivering an abandoned cargo ship to Australia.However, the ship's European company have all died of smallpox, and everyone believes the ship to be cursed.So, Herrick, Davis, and Huish let sail - but to sell the cargo themselves and then take up as pirates.As the trio complete their dangerous moral and legal fall into piracy and murder, they come upon a queer island loaded with wealth.But will they survive what lies ahead?



Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I wasn't engrossed in it.Skip the introduction, or you won't continue reading the book.Go straight to the stories.All the stories are good, but the Ebb-Tide is probably the best.

Some enjoyable South Pacific yarns
I don't know why no one has reviewed this volume before.It is a good readable edition of several of Stevenson's South Sea stories, including the rarely encountered novel The Ebb Tide.The introduction is interesting enough, and the footnotes are very helpful for expressions in the Beach-la-Mar pidgin dialect and nautical terms.This is Stevenson's most mature fiction and is a far cry from Kidnapped and the Child's Garden of Verses. ... Read more

Product Description
(Series Copy)

General Editor: DAVID TROTTER

The Oxford Popular Fiction series introduces or reintroduces bestselling works of British and American fiction that have helped define new styles and genres, and that continue to resonate in the prototypical, controversial, groundbreaking, and sometimes notorious fiction of which classics are made. Complete with critical introductions, the Oxford Popular Fiction series is a personal library that lies at the heart of British and American popular culture.

The Wrong Box (1889) is one of Stevenson's strangest works. Written with his stepson Lloyd Osborne, it is a masterpiece of black comedy, turning on mistaken identity, the disappearance of a corpse, and several makeshift coffins. V.S. Pritchett described it as "a farce that slips down the throat with the nicety of an oyster," and, according to E.F. Benson, it is "perhaps the most superb extravaganza in the language." In this intriguing work, the Finsbury family has long been involved in a Tontine--a scheme in which subscribers invest money in a fund which them falls to the last survivor. Now there are only two aged uncles between Morris and John Finsbury and their fortune. A railway accident appears to dispose of one, and then the farce begins. In this eccentric and brilliantly plotted story, the authors not only extended the boundaries of good taste, but also satirized the popular Railway Novel genre, perplexing many Victorian readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

An Unexpected Mystery/Comedy
This was a great read!I couldn't wait to get to the end.It has quite the tangled plot and gave laughs along the way to boot.I didn't know who would end up where, but when the characters started bumping into each other in strange and twisted ways it was that much more interesting.Who would have thought that Robert Louis Stevenson had it in him?I never heard of this book until I purchased my Kindle and it was the first thing I read.I would recommend this to anyone who likes to be entertained.

Bust your gut
This is one of the funniest stories I have ever happened across. I was led to the book by the movie. The two are very different. Each is highly enjoyable and very funny.

However, if I had to choose only one, I would choose the movie. The book is so convoluted that by the end, I was somewhat confused. The movie simplifies a lot of the complexities, leaving cleaner plot lines and providing greater laughs.

To each his own; you may not agree with me. I suggest you enjoy both the book and the movie, and make up your mind for yourself.

Excellent Victorian Farce
Although I haven't read any of Robert Louis Stevenson's books beyond the big ones (Treasure Island, Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, Kidnapped, New Arabian Nights), I thought I was at least familiar with the rest of his work. But when Washington Post columnist Michael Dirda wrote about this book in one of his essays, I not only knew I'd never heard of it, I knew I had to read it. The story is the kind of slapstick black comedy one can scarcely credit being around in the 19th-century. It concerns two elderly brothers who happen to be the final remaining members of a tontine (this is a kind of private long-term lottery in which funds are anted into a common pool, and the last living member of the "players" claims the entire sum). Each of these old men has a younger male relative who has an eye on claiming the prize at the expense of his cousin. The plot more or less defies easy summarizing, but it involves mistaken identity, the transportation and hiding of a corpse, and all manner of jiggery-pokery by all involved. The farcical antics are rendered in delightfully sprightly prose that remains completely entertaining more than a century later.

Note: There is apparently some contraversy regarding the exact nature of Stevenson's authorship of this work. It is co-credited to his stepson Lloyd Osborne (they colloborated on at least three other works), and some speculate that it is entirely Osborne's work since its style and tone are quite different from most of Stevenson's work. Whatever the case, it's a fun read. There is also a 1966 film version starring Michael Caine, which at present is only available to American audiences on VHS or Region 2 DVD.

"Nothing like a little judicious levity"
I'ts great to see this priceless little book so affordably back in print.I'm not sure that it's ever had a big American following, but for some years the Times of London had to limit its writers to only one allusion to the novel per issue. (My review title was an oft-repeated line.)The colloration of Stevenson and stepson Lloyd Osborne, it's a seamless integration of comic light adventure, mystery, novel of manners and high-handed farce, all in some of the purest English prose you'll ever read. It's one of those books you end up rereading at least twice, reading aloud to anyone who'll listen, and giving at Christmas - in short, a classic.(The film version cited on this page has a perfect cast but cuts and alters the plot pretty badly - and this is simply one of those books, like most of Dickens and Fitzgerald, that has to be read to be really appreciated.) I'm not familiar with the publisher, but this may be one of those short-run affairs that should be got while it's there.

Couldn't Put It Down!
Nothing to do on a Friday night or snowbound in front of the fireplace? Fear not! Your entertainment has arrived. This novel showcases Robert Louis Stevenson's penchant for what today is called "dark comedy." It might be described as tongue-in-cheek reportage of a flurry of characters who find ingenious ways of fobbing off onto others a box containing a corpse, though not the corpse of the man who was thought to be the corpse, who actually is not even dead! It gets complicated, you see. The best thing about the book--other than its hilarious plot and ironic tone--is the way Stevenson picks through the mind of each character in search of something rational. Like the novel *A Simple Plan*, so much of the text comprises interior dialogue that it would be hard to turn this into a movie, but it was done once (in the 1960s) and is due, I think, for a re-make. Owen Wilson would be a natural for this one! ... Read more

Product Description
Robert Louis Stevenson: Seven Novels is a part of Barnes & Noble's Library of Essential Writers. Each title in the series presents the finest works- complete and unabridged- from one of the greatest writers in literature in magnificent, elegant, hardaback editions. Every bolume also includes an original introduction that provides the reader with enlightening information on the writer's life and work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A handsome edition containing seven novels by R.L. Stevenson
"The Library of Essential Writers" series of books are affordable and beautiful editions, not to mention sturdy [they are all in hardcover] and number about 31 works in all.They are getting harder to come by but many of the titles are still available at B&N at a bargain. This edition features seven novels by R.L. Stevenson which are complete and unabridged, i.e. "Treasure Island", "Prince Otto", "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde", "Kidnapped", "The Black Arrow", "The Master of Ballantrae", and "David Balfour". There is a brief introduction by Caroline McCracken-Flesher.This set is worth getting if one is able to find it at its original retail price [and not at the inflated price listed by third party sellers here]. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I didn't lay this down with a will
This is one of my all-time favorite books!Those who have read and loved RLS' requiem:

"Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die
And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill."

will love this novelized recreation of Stevenson's last years in Samoa. ... Read more

Product Description
"Born of a nightmare" and "produces in white-hot haste," the first manuscript of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, was thown into a fire, but the second telling of this dark, gothic tale became a publishing sensation in 1886.

John Utterson, a respectable London lawyer, is drawn into a gruesome tale as he uncovers strange connections between his old friend, the brilliant scientist Dr Henry Jekyll, and the brooding sranger, Edward Hyde. As he investigates Jekyll's mysterious life, he uncovers a truly terrifying story of deception...

With and introduction by Ian Rankin, and exclusive illustrations by graphic artist Can Kennedy. Contains book group reading notes. ... Read more

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The Biographical Edition of the works of Robert Louis Stevenson. ... Read more

Product Description
While going through the possessions of a deceased guest who owed them money, the mistress of the inn and her son find a treasure map that leads them to a pirate's fortune. ... Read more

Product Description
Brian Wildsmith's stunning art is the backdrop to this newly revised selection of Robert Louis Stevenson's wonderful poetry for children. First published in 1885 and continuously in print since then, Stevenson's poetry captures the joy and whimsy of childhood and is deservedly a classic. This book is a garden of delightful, imaginative poetry, complete with fairies, animals, and plenty of fun. Make-believe that a bed is a ship and exchange pirate stories; swing from a favorite tree and feel like you can touch the highest leaves; or visit a caravan of kings. An excellent read-aloud to share with a child. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Child's Garden of Verses
I live in a Retirement Community.This is a fabulous collection of poems.Although meant for a child, the ones of us here absolutely love them.Alot we remember from our youth, but others were new to us.
This is a WONDERFUL poetry book for all ages. nita grier

Wonderful
I bought this book for my niece but when I received it, I sat down and couldnt help but ready many of the poems. They are sweet and lovely and the illustrations are colorful and captivating. I highly recommend this book.

A Child's Garden of Verses
Although the art is different in this updated version it is still a timeless collection that should be in every child's selection of available reading material.

Artist rather than writer focus.
I was distressed with how many of the poems from the original Garden of Verses had been eliminated. I was more interested in the writing and would have prefered all of the text from the original.

Children of any age love this book...
We have been reading this book for over eight years to our boys (10 & 7).It was recommended by our beloved teacher of two year olds for a Mother/Mom little school program, she had been teaching for 18 years and said that the Tasha Tudor illustrations drew the children into being fascinated into listening to the poems.And the poems are about the adventures of a little boy.My boys each have their favorite poems and request having those read to them like little presents.At night, the older one has heard the poems so often, it's like sleep therapy...half way through "we built a ship upon the stairs all built of back bedroom chairs..." and he's out like a light.But, please for everyone's sake, get the Tasha Tudor version, it really is superior. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
The works of Robert Louis Stevenson with an active table of contents to help you easily navigate to the work you want.

Works include:
Across The Plains
The Art of Writing and Other Essays
Ballads
The Black Arrow
The Body Snatchers
Catriona
A Child's Garden of Verses
A Christmas Sermon
Edinburgh Picturesque Notes
Essays
Essays of Travel
Fables
Familiar Studies of Men & Books
Father Damien
A Footnote to History
An Inland Voyage
In the South Seas
Island Nights' Entertainments
Kidnapped
Master of Ballantrae
Memories and Portraits
Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin
The Merry Men
Moral Emblems
New Arabian Nights
New Poems
The Pocket
Prayers Written At Vailima and A Lowden Sabbath Morn
Prince Otto
Records of a Family of Engineers
The Sea Fogs
The Silverado Squatters
Songs of Travel and Other Verses
St Ives
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Tales and Fantasies
Travels with a Donkey in the Cevenne
Treasure Island
Underwoods
Vailima Letters
Virginibus Puerisque
The Waif Woman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

VERY BAD EDITION
A bad editing. Paragraphs are not indent in the first line (orare not separated by a space. Reading is very uncomfortable). This book should not sell for its lamentable edition.

Kidnapped Rocks!
Kidnapped is the most astonishing book with the most modern feel and sense of humor. I reread Treasure Island and loved it. But Kidnapped was such a joy of adventure and laughter I can't begin to say. What a great, great writer who's work is as much alive today as the day it was written. ... Read more

Product Description
Classic Book: Moral Emblems by Robert Louis Stevenson

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Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) is the legendary author of such classic adventure novels as Kidnapped and Treasure Island. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Description: Inside Front Dust Cover
This collection includes some of Stevenson's greatest works. Treasure Island, published in 1883, was his first major novel. It is a tale of daring, treachery, and greed climaxing ina battle for hidden treasure on a tropical island. First published in 1886 Kidnapped was considered by Stevenson to be his finest work of fiction and is a tribute to his fascination with his Scottish heritage.

The remaining selections place Stevenson as a master of the art of fiction. He was working on Weirof Hermiston when he died while dictating it to this stepdaugher ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Treasure Island
This is a great way of introducing the classics to younger children.The origional is much too hard for my lower level students in 4th and 5th grades.It's wonderful to get them interested in classic books and hopefully they will want to read Stevenson's origional.

Treasure Island
Unfortunately I didn't realize this is a "child's version" of the story...I thought it was the "real deal."It's a cute book for younger kids.

A Great Introduction to Classic Literature
I am a high school English teacher, and I am a huge fan of the original Treasure Island.That said, I love the Classic Start series as a mother who believes in introducing my children to the classics from a very early age. I began using the series with my daughter when she was five.We have read Black Beauty, The Little Princess, Heidi, and Pollyanna to name a few, so I am very familiar with the content of the series, and I keep coming back for more.

My son just turned six.There is no way that he would be able to sit through nor understand the original, but with this abridged version, he not only becomes familiar with the story, he falls in love with it as well.We began reading Treasure Island last night, and he begged for more and more.Finally, after six chapters I insisted that I needed to read to his older sister.While I did, this little kindegartner slugged through another chapter, struggling over every word to try to get more of the story.I couldn't have been more thrilled; that is the love of reading and the love of good literature with which I am trying to bless my children.

Classic Starts are a fantastic way to begin, in my opinion.I see no difference between a beginning pianist first learning an easy version of a classical piano concerto and a young reader first introduced to an abridged version of a classic that, in it's original form would be above both his context and vocabulary level.I am sure that when my son does encounter the original, and he will--I'll make sure of that--he will not only be more ready, he will be more excited to get the rest of the story, thanks to his familiarity with and fondness for Billy Bones, Jim, and Long John Silver.My thanks, Classic Starts.

Not the original story, good introduction to classics, that's why they are called Classic Starts
My son was 6 when we picked this book up.We read together as a family in the evening.I like to introduce him to the classics when I can.Some of them, like Treasure Island or the Three Muskateers are either too long for him to sit through or too graphic.

This is probably for the 9 to 12 year old reading ability.
This is an abridged version of Treasure Island, the main part of the story is still there.Now to someone who may have already read Treasure Island, you may feel the book is missing its heart.

To my 6 year old this book was enthralling.He found the original on my book shelf and moved it into his room for when he gets older.

We have a number of the Classic Starts books, I prefer them to some of the other children aimed classics.There are simple illustrations throughout the book.

RETOLD (Not the original book)
This is NOT the original book by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Parents, please don't allow your children to be brain-washed. Opt for the original classics. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Action ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Three excellent stories
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94) was a Scottish novelist and poet who is best remembered for his adventurous fiction - including Treasure Island (perhaps the greatest pirate story ever written), and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (one of the greatest horror stories every written). This book combines three his more haunting tales. They are:

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - This story is actually something of a mystery. A lawyer named Gabriel John Utterson becomes aware of the existence of a man who seems to radiate evil, a man called Mr. Edward Hyde. But, to Utterson's consternation, it appears that Hyde is tied up with his good friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll. There seems to be no end to the evil of Mr. Hyde, for even when he dies, it appears that Hyde has one last, and terrible secret to reveal.

The Body Snatcher - Every night, a group of acquaintances visit for a drink at the George at Debenham. But, when one of them, an old Scotsman by the name of Fettes, hears that Doctor Wolfe Macfarlane is in town, he seems to lose all control. It seems that years before, Fettes and Macfarlane were partners in the crime of bodysnatching, but it got much worse than that!

Olalla - When a man goes to Spain for his health, he little realizes that he might just be putting his health in great peril. The Spanish family that he boards with has grown corrupt over the years, culminating in an unspeakable evil.

These really are excellent stories, and it is easy to see why the author has been as influential on later writers as he has been. So, if you want to read three stories written by a master of the craft, then get this book. You will not be disappointed!

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the classic horror tale of a divided and tragic soul which won fame for Robert Louis Stevenson
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde appeared in 1886 as a shocker. It's author is Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94) the TB suffering Scotsman who died in the South Seas in a futile quest for health. Stevenson is also known for such classics as "Treasure Island"; "A Child's Garden of Verses"; "Kidnapped" and "The Master of Ballantrae". He wrote several excellent short stories. Two of them are included in this classy Penguin edition "Olalla" a tale of doomed loved in Spain and "The Body Snatchers" concerning criminals who stole bodies from the grave selling them to medical schools during the nineteenth century.
Dr. Henry Jekyll is a middled aged London doctor. His story is told by two first person narrators: a lawyer and a doctor who are long time friends of Jekyll. The reader is also privy to the confessional diary penned by Jekyll prior to his horrible end.
Dr Jekyll experiments with chemicals transforming himself into the ape-like Edward Hyde (get it-he hides!). Hyde commits an atrocious murder. It is because of this and the torment in his soul that Jekyll commits suicide which , of course, also does away with Hyde.( the two are really one tormented man.).
This short novella appeared at the same time Jack the Ripper was atrociously murdering prostitutes in London. An affinity was made between Hyde and the Ripper by the British reading public.
The story became a best seller for Stevenson and the expression "A Jekyll and Hyde personality" has become a common metaphor in life for someone with a personality disorder. It was also written during the time period in fin de siecle Vienna when Freud was championing his ideas concerning the ego, superego and id fighting for supremacy in the human personality.
The Penguin edition includes an excerpt of Stevenson's article concerning the importance of dreams in the life of the creative artist. This article is well written and applies to RLS's creation of Jekyll and Hyde.
As with all Penguin Classics this one contains excellent notes and a good introduction by a scholar of horror fiction. Along with Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula" Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde resides on the the booshelf reserved for the greatest horror fictions ever published.

Interesting
I didn't like Dr. J/Mr. H as much as my husband did. But I still thought it was a good story. And it was nice to know the real story instead of how it's been portrayed in Hollywood.

The other stories in this book were weird and I only finished two of them. I started a couple others but couldn't find enough will power to plunge through to the end.

Amazing stories by Stevenson including rare imperialist tales
This book includes three of Robert Louis Stevenson's best novellas.Most people are familiar with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but without revealing too much I'll just say that Jekyll conducts experiments on personality.Hyde shows up as a friend of the doctor, but he offends anyone in his presence with his nasty personality.It's a thoughtful perspective on what people may be hiding from their social personalities and worth reading even if you're familiar with the story.

The Beach of Falesa is the best of this collection.In this little known tale, a British trader gets stationed on a small island in the South Pacific, but he immediately has trouble establishing his trade with the natives even though any foreigner, be he white, black, or Asian, holds higher social status than the natives. Such relations between races on an isolated island were normal during imperialism but are still surprising now. For example, the main character has free choice of any native girl to be his wife.Stevenson honestly portrays imperialism's influence on the island while also exploring the beliefs of the natives and how they can be easily manipulated. This was a great page-turner, one of those rare ones that left me thinking about it months later.

The Ebb Tide, the last and longest story in this collection, recounts the tale of three white men on an island in the Pacific, all stuck there because they're committed crimes or ruined their reputations in their home countries.With all three broke, they come upon a discovery that will allow them to leave the island and make some money in the process.However, as the darker side of these criminals come out at sea, events take a dark turn.This is another tale that analyzes race relations in the South Pacific during imperialism, but focuses more on the abusive personalities of white criminals who end up stuck there.Still, it has it's merits like Stevenson's good characterizations and is worth reading.

All in all, this is an outstanding threesome of Stevenson's best short novels.Although the story of Jekyll and Hyde is easily found, The Beach of Falesa and The Ebb Tide are extrememly difficult to find, making this in invaluable collection.I was thrilled to come across some of Stevenson's rarer stories in this collection and highly recommend checking it out.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde:The Dual Nature of Man.
_The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Other Tales of Terror_, in the Penguin Classics series, consists of three tales by Robert Louis Stevenson, an essay by Stevenson, as well as an introduction and "diagnosis of Dr. Jekyll" by the editor Robert Mighall.Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish writer in the Victorian period who grew up to a strict Presbyterian upbringing which would lead him to become obsessed with sin, the nature of evil, and death throughout much of his life.Originally Stevenson wrote adventure tales and stories of pirates (_Treasure Island_ for example); however, he was to turn his writing talents to tales of horror and the supernatural, particularly with the stories seen here.Stevenson wrote these stories to be read during the Christmas season (one traditionally associated with the supernatural and tales of dread).While Stevenson was much influenced by his own strict upbringing, he also was influenced by the various evolutionary theories of criminology then popular in the Victorian period.In particular, the eugenic theories of Francis Galton and the criminological theories of Caesare Lombroso (who claimed to have found the source of the "atavistic criminal type") were then popular.Stevenson also may have been interested in sexual pathology (a taboo topic during the Victorian era).In particular, many of his stories hint at homosexuality or possibly sexual sadism (and the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was to influence the writing of Oscar Wilde who was convicted of sodomy in his time).Stevenson's stories reveal the dark side of man and the hypocrisy of the "respectable" during the Victorian period.

This book contains the following tales (and essay):

_Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde_(1886)-This is the classic tale of a double consciousness.The respectable Dr. Jekyll, an upright citizen of a higher status, begins to develop a secret nature (to become a "secret sinner") which eventually leads him to construct the personality of a Mr. Edward Hyde as an alter.Mr. Hyde is a repulsive figure to behold, uniformly despised by those who see him, short in stature, possibly deformed, and bearing some resemblance to the simian.Mr. Hyde is also the classic atavistic criminal type, believed to be lower on the evolutionary ladder than the righteous Dr. Jekyll.Dr. Jekyll concocts a potion which he intakes and becomes the sinister Mr. Hyde.Thus, begins a classic conflict between the good and evil natures within man.While Dr. Jekyll leads an upright life, his alter Mr. Hyde engages in brutal activities, nearly plows over a child on the street, and eventually murders a man.The story unfolds as Dr. Jekyll's lawyer and friend tries to understand why Dr. Jekyll should choose such a repulsive individual as Hyde as his benefactor to his will and the ensuing transformation in Jekyll.Eventually the transformation begins to occur in Jekyll without the use of the potion, so Jekyll vows to stop taking it.However, he returns to the potion again eventually (perhaps hinting at the horrors of alcoholism or other addiction) and becomes Mr. Hyde again.Eventually the personality of Mr. Hyde is to overcome completely Dr. Jekyll (as his potion runs out).Thus is revealed the dual nature of man.

"The Body Snatcher"(1884)-This tale involves the procurement of bodies to be dissected by medical students.At the time, the bodies used by medical students were in short supply.These bodies are supplied to a Dr. K__ (perhaps, Robert Knox, a real life physician who was implicated in a similar scandal); however, it soon becomes apparent that they have been murdered.The story ends with a bizarre twist.This story was a precursor to _Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde_, and it features many of the same surroundings.

"Olalla"(1885)-This is a classic Gothic tale featuring a voyage by a man suffering from tuberculosis (which Stevenson himself was to suffer from) to Catholic Spain.There he stays with an ancient family which is under a horrifying curse - degeneracy of the blood.Stevenson based this story on many of the evolutionary beliefs popular at the time, including the hereditary nature of madness and "bad blood".The family described in this story, though of noble birth, has a history of this "taint of the blood" brought about by too much inbreeding.The story involves vampirism (the longing for blood, which perhaps influenced the later writings of Bram Stoker, whose Dracula was also an atavistic criminal type of a tainted heritage) and the narrator falls in love with Olalla, a daughter of the family.

"A Chapter on Dreams"(Abridged)(1888)-This is an essay written by Stevenson in which he discusses his dreams (the role of the "Brownies" (elfin creatures) in their creation) and the source of his inspiration for _Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde_.

The final section of this book is an essay by the editor Robert Mighall, entitled "Diagnosing Jekyll:The Scientific Context of Dr Jekyll's Experiment and Mr Hyde's Embodiment".This essay discusses the role of double-consciousness (the possibility of multiple personality), moral insanity, criminal responsibility, and sexual perversion in the character of Dr. Jekyll.It is most interesting for its remarks on the evolutionary theories of criminology popular at the time and the possible sexual perversion of Dr. Jekyll.This essay also discusses the case of "Jack the Ripper", which played out in London at the same time as _Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde_ was appearing on the stage, and its relationship to this story.

This book includes several interesting stories by Stevenson which reveal his continuing obsessions, the dual nature of man and the evolutionary taint of "bad blood".They show us how even the most respectable, upright individuals may have a dual nature (a dark side), though it is often hidden.They also have much to say about the societal hypocrisy which makes such a thing possible to begin with.The need to "keep up appearances" often betrays a darker side.
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Product Description
The best Robert Louis Stevenson classics are complied in this essential collection (With an active table of contents):

Treasure Island,
Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde,
A Child’s Garden of Verse,
The Black Arrow,
Kidnapped,
In the South Seas,
Travels With a Donkey In The Cevennes,
New Arabian Nights ... Read more

Product Description
This book an EXACT reproduction of the original book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Robert Lous Stevenson is not only the author of "Treasure Island"d"
Robert Louis Stevenson started to write "In the South Seas" in 1889, sailing at the "Equator", during his second cruise on the Pacific. This trip was taken in the company of his wife, Fanny, his stepson, Lloyd Osbourne, his mother, Margaret Stevenson (Maggie)and a French nurse on service with the Stevensons, since 1887, Valentine Roch; His purpose was to engage in a serious work about of the South Seas, based on his personal experience and on his collection of a lot of informations about the manners and habits os its native inhabitants. However, his wife is not glad. She tells him that his condition as a social scientist is not as good as a writer. Robert Louis Stevenson didn't attempt to Fanny's advice, and he decided to keep on doing his work. Many critics recognize "In the South Seas" as the best travel's book published in the 19th Century. However I believe it is not only a simple travel's book. I think it is like an autobiography, with numerous and reasonable reflections by the author about human life, the occidental cilization, and peoples who live in remote places, without frequent contact with tje white's world. RLS reveals in his book what he has analyzed and understood about these peoples, expressing his ideas about their religion, art and life style. The language the author uses does not have the common prejudiced traceq which is a characterist of European writers. As he mentions the missionaries's action in Pacific islands.he denounces it with strong words and considers this actiona crime against these péoples who are not sighted as human beings by Europeans and Americans, at that time, but simply savage men. The characters who appear in "In the South Seas" are represented by RLS with vivid details and we can perceive them as real people. I think "In the South Seas" is an essential book to study the Pacific Islands history and to understand its peoples; moreover, I consider Robert Louis Stevenson a pioneer in anthropological studies on this world's area. In his book, he really announces a new sight on Anthropology - on the Historical Anthropologyas it wasrecently idealized by Marshall Sallins. Unfortunately , the historians of the Cultural Anthropology don't mention a single word about Robert Louis Stevenson's book; and I think is still time to redeem this great injustice.

Indispensible to Readers of the Pacific
If you read only one "South Seas" book from the 1920s back, this should be the one.This Penguin issue corrects a number of inaccuracies from previous editions, including Stevenson's own error in their departure date (!)It is the classic travel and observation book of the Pacific.The early descriptions of the Marquesas are unmatched, as are the accounts of the several islands they visited in Kiribati (Gilbert Islands).The account of Tem Binoka will give you a real eye opening into an absolute ruler and his ways in the late 19th century.Reading this could start a life long interest in Pacific literature.

In the South Seas
In his book, In the South Seas, Stevenson gives an accurate and in depth look into the people and culture of the islands of the South Pacific. The book describes Stevenson's two year journey from the Marqueses Islands, to Tahiti, then Honolulu ,and finally Somoa. Stevenson uses the great adventures he experienced and his masterfully writing skills to paint a breath taking view of the islands and thier many beauties. ... Read more