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Fanny Stevenson A Romance of Destiny Alexandra Lapierre Carol Cosman 9780786701278 Books

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Fanny Stevenson A Romance of Destiny Alexandra Lapierre Carol Cosman 9780786701278 Books

Fanny Stevenson: A Romance of Destiny rates as one of the better biographies I've read in the last five years. I believe this one will be one that I remember and refer back to often.

Fanny's life contained much diversity, adventure, travel and love's ups and downs. She certainly was a unique individual and clearly had some charisma where men were concerned, although I am still baffled as to why that was considering the chauvinistic era in which she lived. IMO Fanny serves as a pre-feminist lady. She nursed and served Robert Louis Stevenson but couldn't be labeled as servile, if that makes any sense. She did not hesitate to give opinions and could bully others if they stood in the way of helping someone she loved. Strong-willed would be an understatement in describing Fanny.

Since I am a fan of RLS, I enjoyed seeing his life through Fanny's eyes. It isn't the rose-coloured view presented by most of his biographers. His passion and loyalty towards Fanny and his friends impressed me.

A couple highlights of the book:

*Fanny's fashion sense: wear the current style, but add at least one item that expresses your individual personality.

*There is enough travel, drama and adventure for a couple of lives

*The devotion and loyalty between Fanny and RLS is touching

*This is my first time seeing a Notes section layout such as this one has. I liked it a lot!

The only drawbacks:

*Even after reading this book I still don't feel like I know Fanny as much as know about her. I don't blame the author for this because most information about her is written by her enemies who felt she stole RLS from them. However, the author did a wonderful job of reconstructing her life from letters and such.

*The other drawback is only a minor one and a personal peeve. I detest it when authors write lines such as 'She didn't know this would be the last time ...' or 'Little did she know that....' I hate being told something before it happens in a biography. I like to know what happens in the order it happens. Fortunately, this book indulges in only a minor amount of this tactic.


Tags : Fanny Stevenson: A Romance of Destiny [Alexandra Lapierre, Carol Cosman] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A biography of the wife of Robert Louis Stevenson traces Fanny Stevenson's life from her early years in America to her days after his death,Alexandra Lapierre, Carol Cosman,Fanny Stevenson: A Romance of Destiny,Carroll & Graf Pub,0786701277,1100328962,General,Americans;Europe;History;19th century.,Authors' spouses;Scotland;Biography.,Women artists;United States;Biography.,19th century,Americans,Authors' spouses,Biography,Biography & Autobiography,Biography & Autobiography General,Biography Autobiography,BiographyAutobiography,Europe,History,Literary,Marriage,Scotland,Sociology Of Women,Stevenson, Fanny Van de Grift,Stevenson, Robert Louis,United States,Women artists

Fanny Stevenson A Romance of Destiny Alexandra Lapierre Carol Cosman 9780786701278 Books Reviews

Although intended as a biography, the author uses the techniques of fiction to such a degree as to turn this into an historical novel. The result in any case is absorbing. There are illustrations and a bibliography, but no index. Fanny Stevenson was what Mae West would have called "a fascinatin' hysterical character."
This 500-page, fictionalized biography is an impressive, engrossing work. Fanny Vandegrift Stevenson was a physically-robust 'man's woman' in an era when women were used hard, but held back, typed, and discriminated against. A very early marriage to a charming, faithless, adventuring neighbor-turned-gold-prospecter resulted in several children whom she took around the world in her life's amazing travels and adventures. She gave and endured much w/husband No. 1, whom she divorced to marry writer Rob't. Louis Stevenson.

That relationship was far more satisfying and productive. By becoming his vigilant caretaker and loving critic/editor/scribe, she prolonged his fragile life sixteen years and thereby left the world a rich legacy of superior literary works. Their union was largely a happy one, although not without tensions, screamers, and blow-ups, detailed in the book. Being a vigilant caretaker is a thankless job, as caretakers everywhere can attest. Mrs. S. didn't fare well in the eyes of many others, who were jealous and resentful of her influence over Stevenson, his change from adolescent to adult, and her temerity in limiting Stevenson's self-destructive (given his health) bon vivant tendencies. He, too, apparently grew to resent it as the years progressed and he enjoyed (towards the last and due to her), better health, greater energy, and congenial surroundings. But it was a true love match. They remained devoted to each other throughout their marriage and past his death. His loving poem, "To My Wife" (undated), is the cover page to the hardcover edition. Its tenderness and realism are truly moving.

The Notes section describes the author's field trips all over the world and US, and the process of synthesizing new Letters, dialogue, and scenes from the materials found. The Epilogue's follow-up of all the key primary and secondary characters is greatly appreciated, as by the story's close, one feels close to and curious about them. The Bibliography is enormous and of great interest in itself. Stevenson was a lion in the Western European literary circle of his time, and their peregrinations to the South Seas and Polynesia put them in extended contact with famous people from several cultures, esp. the indigenous leaders of Hawaii and Samoa.
Great story unfolds as Fannie , a native Hoosier, follows her 1st husband in a wagon to mine gold out west. This is only the beginning of her adventures as she seeks out the bohemian lifestyle of Paris following her divorce. It is there she meets Robert Lewis Stephenson and is swept along with him on his global quest for healthy climes.
Alexandra Lapierre followed the love story of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson from France to Scotland, to California, to Samoa and many other points along the way, and her fascinated pursuit uncovered a beautiful and rare relationship that should be more widely known to those who seek the life stories behind great literature.
This is one of the best biographies I have read in a long time.
Fanny's character is memorable. She had a zest for life
that appealed to Robert Louis Stevenson. She was a small
woman, very dark in coloring and quite flamboyant. When
she married RLS he was a deaths door. Therefore, Fanny made it
her life's work to guard his health. Her life before and after RLS
was an adventure. I have one regret about this book.
There were very few pictures of her and her family. There were few
and they were poor. Much was written about Fanny's appearance.
I was left wanting more. I liked the way Lapierre tied up all of the
loose ends in the epilogue. This is a well written book. It does not
slow and bog down. It held my interest for 500 pages.
Fanny Stevenson A Romance of Destiny rates as one of the better biographies I've read in the last five years. I believe this one will be one that I remember and refer back to often.

Fanny's life contained much diversity, adventure, travel and love's ups and downs. She certainly was a unique individual and clearly had some charisma where men were concerned, although I am still baffled as to why that was considering the chauvinistic era in which she lived. IMO Fanny serves as a pre-feminist lady. She nursed and served Robert Louis Stevenson but couldn't be labeled as servile, if that makes any sense. She did not hesitate to give opinions and could bully others if they stood in the way of helping someone she loved. Strong-willed would be an understatement in describing Fanny.

Since I am a fan of RLS, I enjoyed seeing his life through Fanny's eyes. It isn't the rose-coloured view presented by most of his biographers. His passion and loyalty towards Fanny and his friends impressed me.

A couple highlights of the book

*Fanny's fashion sense wear the current style, but add at least one item that expresses your individual personality.

*There is enough travel, drama and adventure for a couple of lives

*The devotion and loyalty between Fanny and RLS is touching

*This is my first time seeing a Notes section layout such as this one has. I liked it a lot!

The only drawbacks

*Even after reading this book I still don't feel like I know Fanny as much as know about her. I don't blame the author for this because most information about her is written by her enemies who felt she stole RLS from them. However, the author did a wonderful job of reconstructing her life from letters and such.

*The other drawback is only a minor one and a personal peeve. I detest it when authors write lines such as 'She didn't know this would be the last time ...' or 'Little did she know that....' I hate being told something before it happens in a biography. I like to know what happens in the order it happens. Fortunately, this book indulges in only a minor amount of this tactic.