Sunday, January 5, 2020

R-E-S-P-E-C-T and Robert Louis Stevenson




The song "Respect" is very well known with  Aretha Franklin as the singer and very rightly so but I hope you know that the song was written by Otis Redding! We lost Otis Redding very early, in 1967 in a plane crash when he was only 26 years old. (The smash hit, "Sitting On The Dock of the Bay" was released just days after his death.) Besides being an incredible songwriter, he was an amazing singer. We lost Aretha Franklin in 2018. Both are gone now but we still have their songs to enjoy. 






By now, you must be thinking how does Robert Louis Stevenson somehow work into this topic on respect? Here is what sparked this connection:  Several months ago, on an episode of "Jeopardy" all three contestants could not answer the final Jeopardy, which was this: "When he died in Samoa in 1894, his obituary said, 'He loved Samoa better than any other place, except Scotland.'  Of course, the answer is Robert Louis Stevenson! (Except on Jeopardy, all answers are in the form of a question, so I was saying, "Who is Robert Louis Stevenson!" to the TV!)  Now, these contestants had hardly missed a single clue on this show and yet, not one of them could answer that correctly!  I would be interested to know if this is true in other countries but in the USA, teachers did not encourage students to read any of the books by Robert Louis Stevenson.  His books, "Treasure Island" and "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" are the most well known. So, in America his books were relegated to the children's books section and the horror section. (And yes, he also wrote the very popular, "A Child's Garden of Verses" but we should not think that is all that he wrote! And even if that were so, I very much respect authors who write for children!)  In the Norton Anthology of English Literature, he was completely excluded from 1968 to 2000. What does someone have to do to get respect, for Pete's sake? Not only was he an outstanding writer but I think he was a fascinating person as well.  I have read that in the last part of the 20th century, his writings received more attention and praise.
If you want to see a list of all his writings, you may go to this website just here.  
While there, make sure you read about the letter that he wrote defending Father Damian in Hawaii. And his friendship with King Kalakaua of Hawaii and the king's daughter, Princess Kaiulani.  I think this says quite a bit about the character of Robert Louis Stevenson.  (Once again, the life of Princess Kaiulani...how fascinating! You may read more just here!)

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850, Robert Louis Stevenson suffered from poor health for much of his life and he only lived to be 44 years of age. He traveled to many countries and wrote stories from each place he visited. He married an American woman named Fanny Osbourne. I think she was fascinating in her own right! You may read her story just here.  On a personal note, I was thrilled to read the book "Sailing Alone Around The World" and Joshua Slocum stopped in Samoa on his journey and visited with Fanny Stevenson! What a charming host she was to him! (His voyage was from 1894 until 1898, so the visit would have been after Robert Louis Stevenson's death.)  I am not sure how long she stayed after his death, because she did go to California to live and...well, read about her! I think her life would make a great film and to combine her story with the writer, Robert Louis Stevenson...well, another movie that needs to be made!)



Here are a few quotes from Robert Louis Stevenson that I like:

"Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others."

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."

"Our business in this world is not to succeed, but to continue to fail, in good spirits."


Continue to fail, in good spirits...I don't know about you, but that is the kind of person that makes you smile and gently gives you inspiration.  And I think someone like that deserves our respect.




      I might have shown you this photo before, it is the pier from Eastbourne, completed in 1872!
                                                   Love it!

AND I am happy to tell you that when we were putting away our Christmas decorations, we found the blue Christmas tree! It is only a little tree, very inexpensive but Richard enjoyed taking photos of the lights on the wall with the afternoon sun. So, we will have it next year! "It's not a bad little tree, it just needs a little love."  And respect! (And someone who won't forget where it is stored.) 




30 comments:

  1. I just read a book that was on his life and his wife. It was a very interesting read. He came from a wealthy family that were light house builders. She was a divorced american that was much older than he was.
    She had children but he never had children of his own.
    It was very interesting.
    Cathy

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    1. You see, you know how interesting he is!
      And I found his wife to be fascinating also. A divorced American, you know that must have gone down a treat with his family NOT! :-)
      Even though he didn't have children, he seemed to be very good with them and I think he must have treated her children like his own.

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    2. since I can not find an email for you I will write it here. I got to star Island every year which is right across from appledore. I have read 2 books on that murder she did not witness it but she was on the island when it happened. I do not believe they got the right guy for the murder. The hotel on Star Island her brother built in her lifetime. She is pretty interesting I have read most books about Celia Thaxter
      Cathy

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    3. Yes! You are correct about Celia Thaxter. She didn't witness the murder but she had to be on the witness stand and to testify since she knew one of the those involved. (Was she the maid? Sorry, it is late, I will have to look it up again.) Anyway, one of her quotes was on my inspirational calendar and I looked her up and was surprised to find a book about murder along with her books on her lovely garden. She really was a fascinating lady! Those islands sound lovely, I have only read of this area. Being from Georgia. I haven't been to too many places in that part of the country. I would like to visit though!

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  2. When I was a kid 50+ years ago, there was a much greater emphasis in Canada on British children's lit than on American children's lit, so I read quite a few of RLS's novels and short stories. And of course, the Child's Garden of Verse.

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    1. For me, it was interesting to see how the school system here just completely ignored his great writing and the proof of that was the learned contestants on that show not knowing of RLS! Oh well, it seems he has gotten more recognition lately. That's good.

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  3. Interesting facts. I think with smart phones encouraging five second page swipes, from what I've observed on buses, the art of reading for any length of time past a single page or thin chapter is on the way out. Even in the past though only a lucky few world famous writers managed to make a decent living at it and most died famous but still in poverty. E.A. Poe and Herman Melville spring to mind in that regard. Very few artists in any entertainment craft seem to make a reliable income from it. One of the main drawbacks of that profession.

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    1. Ah, but one must create art for art's sake and not for money!
      I have just made myself giggle because I am reminded of the line from "It's A Wonderful Life". You know, the classic Capra film with Jimmy Stewart? It is where the angel tells Harry Bailey that they don't use money in heaven and his reply?
      "Well, it comes in pretty handy down here, Bub!"
      He says it with such sincerity and emotion, it always makes me laugh...after all, it is so true.

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  4. I often quote Robert Louis Stevenson and do respect his wisdom. Who can forget treasure Island/

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    1. Who can ever forget it?
      Look at this,if you can...
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_Island
      So interesting to read that he drew the map himself for the book but was told by the publishers they never received it! It was re done but it sounded like he (RLS) never thought it was right.

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  5. How i enjoyed his books! He does need to still be read, and yes, movies should be made. True life stories are much more entertaining to me.

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    1. I wish I had a channel on TV where I could only show films about true stories!
      And I also need to have my own radio station so that I could have all the songs I want to share!

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  6. I agree with you about good children's books. If they are written well adults will enjoy them too.

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    1. One of my favorites? The Secret Garden. It is a children's book but it should be read as an adult. It is so good.

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  7. You know how much I love your fact-filled posts - always fascinating, and leading to so much more that I can read up on when I have time.
    For my 10th birthday, I got a stack of books, one of which was "Treasure Island". I think it deserves rereading as an adult.

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    1. Oh, it is always like this for me. I go to write a post and then I find THIS person and THAT person and they are so fascinating to me that I scarcely can imagine how I can't mention them also!
      (Does that sentence make sense? It is early hours of the morning, so hard to concentrate!)
      See my comment above? Re-read "The Secret Garden" even if you read it and loved it as a child. I promise you, you will enjoy it as an adult also!

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  8. I saw that episode of Jeopardy and was surprised that no one had the question....My favorite writer is D.E. Stevenson whose father was Robert Louis Stevenson's first cousin. She lived from 1892 to 1973. I know she often gave lectures about RLS...He accomplished so much in his too short life. On my refrigerator is a magnet with the quote which says that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive. I was in early grade school when the Disney movie Treasure Island came out and I remember how my friends and I spent months drawing our imaginary treasure maps! We had fun with that! How long ago it seems. I am so glad you mentioned RLS. And if you have not read it, I think you would enjoy the book Miss Buncle's Book.

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    1. Oh! You saw that too! Gee, it seems it was on TV quite some time ago, can't remember when but I do remember that the contestants were very, very good and it surprised me that they didn't know of Robert Louis Stevenson! And THANK YOU for telling me of D.E. Stevenson! Once again, her books sold MILLIONS and yet, I have never heard of her! I will read "Miss Buncle's Book". Thanks again!
      (And did you know that RLS had drawn the treasure map himself? But that the publishers did not get it and then, it was re-drawn but that RLS was never happy with the final map in the book? Gee, I guess he didn't get respect from his publishers either!)

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    2. I did not know that about the treasure map! I have seen (but not been on) Fidra island in Scotland that some people think was the inspiration for Treasure Island. I wonder if we can see his version of the map.

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    3. I hope to get to Scotland one day! I especially want to see the Isle of Lewis!

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  9. Nice tribute to Stevenson. I attended Stevenson Intermediate School here in Hawaii, and so did David.

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    1. Oh, that is wonderful! And so perfect that you left this comment here to tell me!
      I believe that he loved Hawaii very much.

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  10. Nice tribute indeed. You might like this...

    https://www.gutenberg.org/files/382/382-h/382-h.htm

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    1. You are my second comment from Scotland! So, thank you for that AND thank you very much for this link!
      I know my father-in-law would like to read it too!
      I hope you read this comment, Peter!!

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  11. I've learned a ton today! He certainly does deserve our respect! Do kids even read the classics these days? We have a couple of Treasure Island books here..one in leather bound..great read at any age and I loved the Disney movie too!

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    1. A copy of Treasure Island that is leather bound...wonderful!
      Classics? Only if they are tied in with some marketing concept!

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  12. When my late brother and I were kids we were encouraged to read; not that we needed much encouragement because we loved reading.
    For each of our birthdays and for Christmas our gifts always included four books....four books each.

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    1. How lucky you were to have books. I longed to have them. Still do!

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  13. Great post.
    I enjoyed the music and reading about R L Stevenson.
    Who can forget Treasure Island … a classic :)

    All the best Jan

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