Essays of Robert Louis Stevenson Selected and Edited With an Introduction and Notes by William Lyon Phelps

This volume brings together a selection of the writer's most intimate essays, chosen not for scholarly critique but for the way they lay bare his wit, curiosity, and moral sensibility. The editor’s concise introduction and clear notes guide listeners through the pieces, making the collection approachable for both students and anyone who enjoys thoughtful prose. Each essay sparkles with the same vivid storytelling that made his fiction famous, while also revealing the personal convictions that shaped his worldview.

The writer’s own story unfolds in the opening pages: a Scottish upbringing marked by engineering lineage and a frail constitution that drove him to seek warmer climes and adventurous travel. From his early wanderings across France to his eventual settlement in the South Pacific, his experiences fuel the lively observations and humor found in these writings. Listeners will hear the same restless spirit that produced classics like Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, now turned to reflective, often playful essays on faith, philosophy, and everyday life.