A Wilder Shore

The Romantic Odyssey of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson

By: Camille Peri

Narrated by: Jeanette Illidge

A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE PICK

“Engrossing . . . [A] richly researched and vivid double portrait.”—Phyllis Rose, The Atlantic

“A love story, an adventure story, two literary biographies in one; A Wilder Shore is these things and more—and it's very, very good.”—Roddy Doyle, Booker Prize-winning author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and The Women Behind the Door

The extraordinary story of the creative and romantic partnership between Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife and muse, Fanny Van de Grift

He was an ambitious but drifting writer from a prominent Scottish family. She was a tough Nevada silver miner’s wife, with children, when they met. Who could have predicted that Fanny Van de Grift and Robert Louis Stevenson would go on to create one of history’s great literary marriages?

From their first encounter in France in 1876, Fanny and Louis’s partnership transcended societal expectations to become a literary union that was progressive, eccentric, and tempestuous, but always animated by a profound mutual respect. Seeking creative freedom, inspiration, and better health for Louis, who battled chronic illness, they embarked on a whirlwind journey around the world, from the bohemian enclaves of Europe to the shores of Samoa, where they lived and joined the native islanders’ fight for independence from imperialist powers. Amid the currents of their stormy yet deeply loving relationship, Fanny wrote colorful accounts of her life, contributed to Louis’s work and kept him alive to pen classic novels such as Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde that would go on to resonate with generations of readers.

A portrait of two extraordinary people and a testament to the power of love to foster the human spirit, A Wilder Shore unfolds with all the richness and complexity of a timeless epic, capturing the resilience, courage, and devotion that sparked some of our most celebrated and enduring literary masterpieces.

©2024 Camille Peri (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Engrossing . . . Fanny’s writing has received scant attention from previous Stevenson biographers but Peri, co-editor of the essay collection Mothers Who Think, accords it respect.”—The New York Times Book Review

“[Peri's] richly researched and vivid double portrait makes a convincing case that Fanny pulled off a rare feat, enabling Louis’s genius to mature while releasing his boyish energies . . . I am grateful to Peri for telling the story of their marriage, in all its complexity, with sympathy and spirit.”—Phyllis Rose, The Atlantic

“[A book] to lift your spirits . . . [Fanny's] support allowed Stevenson to write without distraction, and their circumvention of Victorian norms allowed for a marriage where love flourished.”—Washington Post

Interesting book, annoying reader.

This double biography of Robert Lewis Stevenson and his devoted wife reveals their eccentric relationship and highly adventurous life together. Unfortunately, the reader attempts to mimic the accent of the speaker in every quotation, The effect is ridiculous and breaks the flow of the narrative.

Fairly interesting

The story of R.L. and Fanny Stevenson wasn't boring or riveting, somewhere in the middle. The narrative was well told and included lots of quotes from primary sources. Unfortunately, the narrator does voices/accents for those quotes, which came off as silly.

A True Love Story And Wild Adventure

I heard an interview about this book and decided to give it a listen. I was thrilled by the bravery of both Fanny and Louis. Their passion for their love and for the literary work drove them to extraordinary places. After sharing a lot of Fanny’s early life I had expected that the 20 years she lived after Louis’s death was going to be robustly covered in the book but it was dealt with in summary and I feel that there was more about her ongoing adventures to be told.
I think the narrator does pretty well with the various accents she adopts to distinguish characters but at times her narration was a little flat. This did not detract from the story in any way.
Bottom line: stellar life stories, swashbuckling accents, more Fanny please!

Fascinating life of Louis and Fannie

I did not love the author’s style/approach to telling the story. In addition, the sequencing of events became more and more out of order as the book developed, making it s little confusing. The underlying story is fascinating.