A Wilder Shore: The Romantic Odyssey of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson
by Camille Peri
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"A love story, an adventure story, two literary biographies in one; A Wilder Shore is these things and more--and it's very, very good." --Roddy Doyle, Booker Prize-winning author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and The Women Behind the Door The extraordinary story of the creative and romantic partnership between Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife and muse, Fanny Van de Grift He was an ambitious but drifting writer from a prominent Scottish family. She was a tough Nevada silver miner's wife, with show more children, when they met. Who could have predicted that Fanny Van de Grift and Robert Louis Stevenson would go on to create one of history's great literary marriages? From their first encounter in France in 1876, Fanny and Louis's partnership transcended societal expectations to become a literary union that was progressive, eccentric, and tempestuous, but always animated by a profound mutual respect. Seeking creative freedom, inspiration, and better health for Louis, who battled chronic illness, they embarked on a whirlwind journey around the world, from the bohemian enclaves of Europe to the shores of Samoa, where they lived and joined the native islanders' fight for independence from imperialist powers. Amid the currents of their stormy yet deeply loving relationship, Fanny wrote colorful accounts of her life, contributed to Louis's work and kept him alive to pen classic novels such as Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that would go on to resonate with generations of readers. A portrait of two extraordinary people and a testament to the power of love to foster the human spirit, A Wilder Shore unfolds with all the richness and complexity of a timeless epic, capturing the resilience, courage, and devotion that sparked some of our most celebrated and enduring literary masterpieces. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A compelling biography and literary history of Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife. I knew nothing about Fannie Van de Grift, and now I don't understand why. Every bit larger than life as other women who pushed the boundaries of feminity like Annie Oakley or Amelia Earhart, Fannie seems too headstrong and talented to live a merely ordinary life. A great read told an enjoyable clip, without bogging down in the details of how it's meticulous research was done.
lack of enthusiasm may be due to mood of the moment - find myself wanting to read (or reread) Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde rather than story of how it came to be written
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- Canonical title
- A Wilder Shore: The Romantic Odyssey of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson
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- 108
- Popularity
- 300,186
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
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- Languages
- English
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- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
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