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Loading... Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes and An Inland Voyage (edition 1909)by Robert Louis Stevenson
Work InformationTravels with a Donkey in the Cevennes / An Inland Voyage by Robert Louis Stevenson (Author)
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Belongs to Publisher SeriesTusitala (volume xvii)
Also included in this volume are "Underwoods" and "A Childs' Garden of Verses." No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)914.4History and Geography Geography and Travel Geography of and travel in Europe France and MonacoLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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A slow and mellow read. Not everyone will appreciate the elegance of the writing and philosophizing here; not everyone will find it clear or even intelligible. But this is must reading for Stevenson fans as it gives unique insights into the author, his thoughts and his lifestyle, even his diet. I found it strange that he felt the need to carry a revolver! I felt no such need when I hitchhiked through that part of Europe with a pup tent. But I was good at making myself invisible; that is not so easily done when traveling with a donkey. Wolves were an issue in Stevenson’s day, but they didn’t even occur to me.
I thought Stevenson was a semi-invalid, but in this book he survives some very arduous travel, even to an elevation of 5,600 feet above sea level, while smoking tobacco, drinking brandy, and eating a substandard diet. Being pelted with rain was “revivifying” to the youthful RLS.
Maps would have been helpful to the reader. This book occasionally digresses into local history and uses foreign words and phrases without translation. Even some English words that I had not seen before. The author’s treatment of his donkey may displease some readers, but at least he is honest about it.
I preferred the travels with a donkey to the inland voyage. It is more readable, less convoluted in its philosophizing. The author’s donkey companion was more interesting than his canoeing partner. ( )