h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Robert Louis Stevenson - A2741276
Author: Frenchbean <5 stars> I got sweet dreams ... who could ask for anything more? - U236943

Here's a literary one for you Peerers

It's an intro to RLS's life - not a critique of his work, nor an analysis of his inspirations. My interest was sparked when I visited Vailima, his Samoan home and place of his death.

The fact that he is a fabulous author and his books were part of my childhood, spurred me into finding out more

As ever, please peer, comment and pick


Fb

A good read, Frenchbean.

Only a typo from me:

>He was more interested in prividing satisfaction for the nameless longing of the reader,<....providing.

stu

Really good, Frenchbean

Just rambling, this, and perhaps you know it already, but the verse on Fanny's grave wasn't written explicitly as an epitaph (unlike RLS's own "Requiem"). It's the third verse of a poem that forms Chapter 26 of his posthumously-published "Songs of Travel", called "My Wife".

http://www.literaturepost.com/chapter/20625.html

Personally, I think that the first verse is marvellous, but that the poem then gets progressively weaker. Then again, I am a metallurgist. Arthur Conan Doyle's headstone, incidentally, borrows the "steel-true, blade-straight" couplet.

Hi Frenchbean - I love this entry! It is so clearly written, and so concise it was a pleasure to read.

Again I will seek refuge in pedantry because I have learned something from your entry and I have little of value to contribute in terms of content:

"the characters of Jim Hawkins, Captain Flint and Long John Silver are a part of childhood" - I don't know if this reads well. "are a part of the experience of childhood"?

That's about it for me - well done!

Woodpigeon

Thank you for those comments

I'll get onto the typos and pedantry later today


Fb

Hi Fb!

I've learnt lots here that I didn't know !

I found a typo...but someone already did. I thought of linking to a tuberculosis entry...but there isn't one.

I give up - it's great !

Jules

Hi, Fb!
I enjoyed this very much - You might like to link to the edited entry for Edinburgh, and I think 'I travel for travel's sake. The great affair...' should be on two lines, not one.

Good work though!

Typo done, Stu

I've added a footnote about the source of the poem, Pinn. Thanks for that.

Woodpigeon - I'm not sure about that wording. What I wrote sounds better to me Anybody else got a view on that one?


Fb

Hi Berek

Link to Edinburgh entry done

The two sentences in one line are like that because it's not a poem, but prose.

Fb

Another fantastic entry Fb, you just keep cranking them out

Carribean - Caribbean

I believe 'Young Folks' should be in italics.

"To this day, the characters of Jim Hawkins, Captain Flint and Long John Silver are a part of childhood"
Whose childhood? Not mine - I never read any RLS books as a child... or ever I think. I think I had to read Kidnapped at school...


Scout

"To this day, the characters of Jim Hawkins, Captain Flint and Long John Silver are a part of childhood"

I guess Gosho has a point, Fb, I've never read anything by RLS either. Obviously heard of him and of Treasure Island, but only in passing, as it were.

Maybe it could read '...are a part of many people's childhood'?

Or maybe not!

Jules

Yes you could say that though I have to admit that I read it sevearl times. Even if you didn't read it yourself wasn't this the orginal 'pirate' story, influcencing many other childhood favourites?

Ooh I should add that I loved the entry! I have to say that Robert Louis Stevenson must be one of my favourite authors, and 'From a Railway Carriage Window' from the Child's Garden of Verse is still my favourite poem, Ooh apart from 'The Night Mail'.

Woodpigeon - I've changed the childhood bit. Thanks for commenting on that, Gosho et al Does it make better sense now?

Thank you for the comments, however pedantic It's good to know that peerers really do peer



Fb

Jules (awaiting a scout...)

1894,aged --> 1894, aged

Nice one

Thank you

I have a picture of you there with your fine toothcombe, raking through entries, looking for typos and punctuation mistakes


Fb

Hey, I'm the one who does that

Ok, so my comb has a few teeth missing - when you don't have any hair you don't notice that sort of thing

Yes, but fluffy sheep are so much cuter than mean ol' goshos.

Now, now boys... no fighting

So, am I done here?


Fb