Lloyd Osbourne

Samuel Lloyd Osbourne was an American writer born in San Francisco on April 7, 1868, and he died on May 22, 1947. He is most often remembered for his close literary partnership with his stepfather, Robert Louis Stevenson, with whom he co-wrote The Wrong Box, The Wrecker, and The Ebb-Tide.

As a boy, he traveled widely with his mother, Fanny Osbourne, and later became part of Stevenson’s family after her marriage to the novelist. Lloyd Osbourne is also linked to the world around Treasure Island: accounts of Stevenson’s family life often note that the storytelling and play shared with the children helped spark that famous book.

He also wrote fiction and memoir on his own, including An Intimate Portrait of R. L. S. by His Stepson, which gives a personal view of Stevenson at home and at work. That mix of adventure, travel, and literary family history makes Osbourne an interesting figure for readers who enjoy classic storytelling and the world around it.