DEPICTING REAL LIFE
against convention. Schreiner’s
portrayal of Lyndall won her both
feminist acclaim and notoriety,
while her use of a fictionalized
South African landscape was
regarded as pioneering.LA REGENTA
(1884–1885), LEOPOLDA ALASPublished initially in two volumes,
La Regenta by Spanish novelist
Alas (1852–1901) tells the story of a
magistrate’s wife (la Regenta of thetitle—a pun in Spanish meaning
“the woman in command”) who,
living in a provincial town, seeks
fulfillment through religion and
adultery. Rich in characters, such as
the cathedral’s priest and the local
casanova, Alvaro Mesia, the novel
presents a remarkable picture of
provincial life as well as exploring
the psychology of the characters
by allowing them to narrate events.THE STRANGE CASE OF
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
(1886), ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSONThe defining novel that cemented
its author’s reputation and ensured
his celebrity, The Strange Case of
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert
Louis Stevenson is best known for
its remarkable portrayal of what is
sometimes described as a “split
personality.” The book initially
relates the mystery of two men—
respectable and social Dr. Henry
Jekyll and the vice-ridden, brutal
murderer Edward Hyde—who
appear to be connected in some
way. As the story progresses the
reader learns that Jekyll has createdSmerdyakov, who is morose and
epileptic. Describing family
struggles over an inheritance, a love
rivalry between Dimitri and Fyodor,
and introducing the theme of
patricide, Dostoyevsky creates a
complex novel in which he explores
profound questions of faith and
doubt, the problem of free will, and
the issue of moral responsibility.
Dostoyevsky died within four
months of the novel’s completion.TREASURE ISLAND
(1881–1882), ROBERT LOUIS
STEVENSONFirst serialized in a children’s
magazine, Treasure Island by
Robert Louis Stevenson is a
masterpiece of children’s literature,
featuring pirates, buried treasure,
and a swamp-ridden tropical island.
Creating a gripping read that has
entertained children around the
world, Stevenson also interweaves
a coming-of-age novel, as teenager
Jim Hawkins gains sensitivity and
maturity. The author also explores
moral issues with his descriptions
of the ever-changing character of
one-legged pirate Long John Silver.THE STORY OF
AN AFRICAN FARM
(1883), OLIVE SCHREINERFeminist South African writer Olive
Schreiner (1855 –1920) set The Story
of an African Farm in the South
African veld—the grassy scrubland
on which the region’s Dutch settlers
reared cattle—where she grew up.
Reflecting her strongly held views,
the novel features a young woman,
Lyndall, who challenges the Bible-
led restrictions of Boer society, and
her suitor Waldo, who also rebels201
Nothing is despicable—
all is meaningful; nothing
is small—all is part of a whole.
The Story of an
African Farm
Olive SchreinerRobert Louis Stevenson
When living in Samoa, Robert
Louis Stevenson took the
nickname Tusitala, or “Teller of
Tales,” a perfect description for
the man who wrote some of the
world’s most famous adventure
stories. Born in Edinburgh in
1850, Stevenson decided early in
life to make a career in writing,
although he agreed to study law
to please his father. Dogged by
ill health, he was nevertheless
an avid adventurer and traveler,
visiting the US and spending
time in France where, althoughbedridden, he wrote some of his
best-known work, much of it for
children. After leaving Europe
for the US in 1887, in search of
more favorable climes to suit his
poor health, Stevenson set out
with his family in 1888 on a
voyage to the South Seas. He
settled in Samoa in 1890, where
he died four years later.Key works1881–82 Treasure Island (see left)
1886 Kidnapped
1886 The Strange Case of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (see above)US_198-203_FR_CH4.indd 201 08/10/2015 13:07