Robert Louis Stevenson began writing Kidnapped in March of 1885. In February, he had finished writing The Black Arrow and was working on The Great North Road when he read Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. A month later, he put aside the The Great North Road and began writing Kidnapped. Shortly after, the project was laid aside while Stevenson focused on Jekyll and Hyde. He returned to Kidnapped in early 1886. During that year however, Stevenson had constantly thought of his ...

Mr. Utterson the lawyer was a man of a rugged countenance that was never lighted by a smile; cold, scanty and embarrassed in discourse; backward in sentiment; lean, long, dusty, dreary and yet somehow lovable. At friendly meetings, and when the wine was to his taste, something eminently human beaconed from his eye; something indeed which never found its way into his talk, but which spoke not only in these silent symbols of the after-dinner face, but more often and loudly in the acts of his...

Gabriel John Utterson investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde. After his researches he will get to an astonishing truth. This novella by Robert Louis Stevenson is frequently interpreted as an examination of the duality of human nature, usually expressed as an inner struggle between good and evil, with variations such as human versus animal, or civilization versus barbarism. The work is also commonly associated with the Victorian co...

Once upon a time in an undefined city was a doctor who was selling yellow paint. This was of so singular a virtue that whoso was bedaubed with it from head to heel was set free from the dangers of life, and the bondage of sin, and the fear of death for ever.All citizens in the city were painted in yellow. In the same city was a young man of a very good family but he had a reckless life and he always postponed painting in yellow. He had the best friend who had a reckless life just l...

The latest in a new series of classic detective stories from the vaults of HarperCollins is a reissue of one of literature’s most audacious and thought-provoking novels of murder and intrigue, performed by Richard E. Grant. Includes John Inglisham’s foreword from the original Detective Story Club edition.“The Detective Story Club”, launched by Collins in 1929, was a clearing house for the best and most ingenious crime stories of the age, chosen by a select committee of experts. Now...

The latest in a new series of classic detective stories from the vaults of HarperCollins is a reissue of one of literature’s most audacious and thought-provoking novels of murder and intrigue, in hardback with its 1929 cover design and a brand new introduction.“The Detective Story Club”, launched by Collins in 1929, was a clearing house for the best and most ingenious crime stories of the age, chosen by a select committee of experts. Now, almost 90 years later, these books are the ...

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet and writer. There was a bay upon the island, but the native said that it was the death to bathe there. The missionary heard many tales from natives. He was aware of a house raised on piles above the sea that was built of yellow reeds.The natives warned him that there is something strange in this house and he should avoid it. “There is nothing in that,” said the missionary; and he came to the bay, and went swimming.

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet and writer. The most famous of his works was Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Stevenson is one of the most translated authors in the world.In the story of “The Persons of the Tail”, two characters of the “Treasure Island” novel after another chapter written by the author are trying to decide if the author really exists and if so – whom does he love more: captain Alexander Smolett or Silver? But they are s...