A gentle man of fortune is used to describe Captain Flint in the book
"Treasure Island." This statement came from the brilliant mind of Robert Louis
Stevenson and basically describes the man and his life.
Robert Louis Stevenson was born on November 13, 1850. Stevenson
spent his childhood like no others. He took many voyages with his father as a
child and as he grew older he witnessed. The 1800's was a time of peace in
Britain, although high crimes and piracy still existed. Both "Treasure Island"
and "Jekyll and Hyde" are reflective of his voyages and the society of the
Robert Louis Stevenson lived much of his childhood in a beautiful
country home. Stevenson's childhood and later life with his family affected his
works. Stevenson's father, Thomas, was a so of Robert Stevenson, founder of
the family of lighthouse engineers who built Skerryvore, Bell Rock, and other
famous towers around the rocky coast of Scotland. His mother was Margaret,
youngest daughter of Reverend Lewis Balfour, minister at Colinton. Stevenson
was a delicate only child adored by his parents and "Cummie," his devoted
nurse. Cummie was a strongly religious woman who watched over and cared
for Robert. Cummie entertained her charge with a spark for imagination. In
occasion, he would take voyages with his father. His father would sometimes
take him inspecting lighthouses and harbors along the coast. On these
outings, Stevenson experienced images of moors, mountains, and
seagirt isles. His grandfather, who performed the same job as his father,
would also take him on many outings.
Stevenson's father was one of the strongest figures in his life. Thomas
Stevenson (Stevenson's father) tried to guide him in the right direction towards
engineering. Sadly it was the wrong di
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