Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish author from the Victorian era most famous for his novels Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Due to an illness that began in childhood and left the author extraordinarily thin and somewhat eccentric, Stevenson had difficulty fitting in throughout his life. Early on, his illness kept him away from school and he was largely taught by private tutors. He wrote stories almost obsessively and, despite believing the stories were nonsense, his father financed the publication of Stevenson's first novel when he was sixteen years old.
Though Stevenson decided to study engineering at the University of Edinburgh, he was disinterested in the lectures and eventually decided to pursue a career in writing. He moved away from Edinburgh and became active in London literary circles, eventually meeting a man with a wooden leg who would become the inspiration for his character, Long John Silver, in Treasure Island. Despite his infirmities, Stevenson traveled extensively, collecting experiences and information that would be the inspiration for later novels. While searching for a permanent residence with a tolerable climate for his heath conditions, Stevenson eventually settled for a time in France. It was there that he produced some of his most popular novels. In 1890, Stevenson established a permanent residence on the Samoan islands where he was heavily involved in politics and writing until his death in 1894.
If you're searching for one of Stevenson's classics in audiobook format, try The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a science fiction novel that explores man's dual nature. For Treasure Island we feature an Audie awarding-winning edition narrated by actor Alfred Molina on audio download. For a look at Stevenson's lesser-known but equally impressive works, try the audio download of Kidnapped. Enjoy Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novels on audio!