Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson was born on 13 November 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He studied engineering at the University of Edinburgh before changing to law and qualifying for the Scottish Bar in 1875. However, he chose not to practise law and instead devoted his life to literature. His early essays and travel books established him as a skilled observer with a lively and elegant writing style.Stevenson achieved international fame through adventure novels such as Treasure Island and Kidnapped. His celebrated novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde examined the conflict between good and evil within human nature. He also wrote poetry, short stories, essays, and travel literature, creating complex characters that influenced later generations of writers.Because of continuing health problems, Stevenson travelled widely and eventually settled in Samoa, where local people affectionately called him “Tusitala,” meaning storyteller. He continued writing until his death on 3 December 1894. His works remain widely read for their imagination, suspense, emotional depth, and timeless storytelling.