The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 18

"The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 18" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a captivating travelogue documenting the author’s adventures through the South Seas in the late 1800s. Chronicling his time sailing through the Marquesas, Paumotus, and Gilbert Islands, Stevenson paints a vivid picture of island life and diverse cultures, as he shares personal reflections on his failing health and the irresistible call of exotic lands. Beginning with Stevenson’s decision to sail to the region on the "Casco", he recounts his first impressions arriving in Nuka-hiva, highlighting the excitement and uncertainty of entering a new world. The narrative contrasts the islands' beauty with the complexities of relating to native populations, causing him to contemplate civilization, human connection, and his own Scottish identity.