This is the sparkling record of the haphazard six-thousand-mile odyssey that twenty-five-year-old Stevenson made in pursuit of his future wife, Fanny. The two had met and fallen in love during a trip to France, but when Fanny's first husband called her home to California, Stevenson soon followed from Scotland. The sickly Stevenson first made a turbulent Atlantic crossing, like so many nineteenth-century immigrants, as a steerage passenger in a steamer of dubious seaworthiness. After a frenetic stopover in New York City, he embarked on a two-week, three-thousand-mile trip across the continent-the fastest and cheapest way then possible-by emigrant train. Finally arriving in the frontier town of San Francisco to win Fanny over, he was quickly captivated by California. Stevenson's often hilarious impressions of the young country, its rambunctious and colorful inhabitants, and the still-untamed continent are among his most vivid writings
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" Kind of interesting little book. I like RLS and he is such a good writer, that I enjoyed this more than if another writer had chronicled his tale of emigration. <br/> "
— David, 5/2/2011" I listened to this book on Librivox.org. The reader was very hard to understand and she made the book BORING. I bet it would be a much more interesting book to actually read. Unfortunately I have no desire to try and read this book again. "
— Kimbolimbo, 1/2/2011" I attempted to read this book but it was way to boring. "
— Colleen, 10/22/2009Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) was born in Scotland. He studied engineering and law at the University of Edinburgh and then began writing while traveling in France. The publication of Treasure Island in 1883 brought him fame and entered him on a course of romantic fiction beloved by young and old alike.
Donal Donnelly is an Irish-born film and stage actor who trained at Dublin’s Gate Theatre and later joined the world-famous Abbey Theatre. In addition to playing numerous roles on Broadway and in films, he has established himself as a first-rate narrator. Known for his inspired interpretations of James Joyce, his spirited, lyrical delivery has made him a favorite among listeners.