The Quest for Robert Louis Stevenson

A puzzle to his friends and family in his lifetime, RLS still remains something of an enigma, even to Stevenson enthusiasts. Years of restless wandering led him to tropical Samoa, where he found not only well-being, but a release of the passionate potential that had been in him from his chilly beginnings in Edinburgh. This virtual paradise, however, was marred by the eccentric behaviour of his wife, Fanny Osbourne. In this book, John Cairney explores their relationship and other fascinating aspects of Stevenson's life.

John Cairney

Dr John Cairney lives in Auckland with his wife Alannah O'Sullivan, and together they form the Pennyfarthing Partnership. John returns to Scotland on a regular basis. He made his stage debut at the tender age of 17 and has been acting ever since. He has adapted Burns for theatrical productions for decades, and performed for radio, television, in film, on stage, in musicals, as well as producing video and audio recordings of the Bard. He has toured his one-man show and was awarded a PhD for his work on Stevenson. Previous titles include On The Trail of Robert Burns, Immortal Memories and The Luath Burns Companion.