The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 24Stevenson, Robert Louis
General
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 24
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Authors, Scottish -- 19th century -- Correspondence; Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894 -- Correspondence
Author of "John Vane Tempest: a Romance," "Herbert and Henrietta: or the
Nemesis of Sentiment," "The Life and Adventures of Colonel Bludyer
Fortescue," "Happy Homes and Hairy Faces," "A Pound of Feathers and a
Pound of Lead," part author of "Minn's Complete Capricious
Correspondent: a Manual of Natty, Natural, and Knowing Letters," and
editor of the "Poetical Remains of Samuel Burt Crabbe, known as the
melodious Bottle-Holder."
Uniform with the above:
"The Life and Remains of the Reverend Jacob Degray Squah," author of
"Heave-yo for the New Jerusalem," "A Box of Candles; or the Patent
Spiritual Safety Match," and "A Day with the Heavenly Harriers."
TO W. H. LOW
The "dedication" referred to was that of a forthcoming illustrated
edition of Keats's _Lamia_.
_Bonallie Towers, Bournemouth, March 13, 1885._
MY DEAR LOW,--Your success has been immense. I wish your letter had come
two days ago: _Otto_, alas! has been disposed of a good while ago; but
it was only day before yesterday that I settled the new volume of Arabs.
However, for the future, you and the sons of the deified Scribner are
the men for me. Really they have behaved most handsomely. I cannot lay
my hand on the papers, or I would tell you exactly how it compares with
my English bargain; but it compares well. Ah, if we had that copyright,
I do believe it would go far to make me solvent, ill-health and all.
I wrote you a letter to the Rembrandt, in which I stated my views about
the dedication in a very brief form. It will give me sincere pleasure,
and will make the second dedication I have received, the other being
from John Addington Symonds. It is a compliment I value much; I don't
know any that I should prefer.
I am glad to hear you have windows to do; that is a fine business, I
think; but, alas! the glass is so bad nowadays; realism invading even
that, as well as the huge inferiority of our technical resource
corrupting every tint. Still, anything that keeps a man to decoration
is, in this age, good for the artist's spirit.
By the way, have you seen James and me on the novel? James, I think in
the August or September--R. L. S. in the December Longman. I own I think
the _ecole bete_, of which I am the champion, has the whip hand of the
argument; but as James is to make a rejoinder, I must not boast. Anyway
the controversy is amusing to see. I was terribly tied down to space,
which has made the end congested and dull. I shall see if I can afford
to send you the April Contemporary--but I dare say you see it anyway--as
it will contain a paper of mine on style, a sort of continuation of old
arguments on art in which you have wagged a most effective tongue. It is
a sort of start upon my Treatise on the Art of Literature: a small, arid
book that shall some day appear.
With every good wish from me and mine (should I not say "she and hers"?)
to you and yours, believe me yours ever,
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
TO P.G. HAMERTON
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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