“R.L.S”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 2

“R.L.S”

A Selection The Stevenson Companion. Arranged by John Hampden. Phoenix House. 8s 6d. Although this does not seem to be intended as a centennial tribute to R. L. Stevenson, the book is timely for that event does fall in a few weeks’ time. No doubt there will be new studies published and new editions of his work, but this “ Companion,” while it gives great pleasure, will also help readers to make their own revaluation. And a revaluation is necessary. The Stevenson cult of earlier days has had its reaction and it is time the balance was struck. Here in 135,000 words from 15 books is a sample of his real quality—-as story-teller, novelist, essayist, letter-writer and poet. A writer who won the admiration of so selfconscious a master as Henry James was more than a writer of boys’ books. . „ Since the book is a " companion it is idle to criticise the choices made and the omissions. The reader is lucky if he knows what the omissions are. We are given the brilliant tale of Francois Villon, “A Lodging for the Night,” and the classic tale of horror, “Thrawn Janet,” selections from the essays and travel books and the short novel, “The Beach of Falesa,” which, re-read after a lapse of many years, comes as a minor revelation in its strength, and this again falls far short of the fragmentary “Weir of Hermit ton.” Simply to read these two pieces is to gain a new perspective on what novel writing has become today. D. G. B.