The Adventures of John Carson in Several Quarters of the World: A Novel of Robert Louis Stevenson

But now Brian Doyle brings Stevenson’s untold tale to life, braiding the adventures of seaman John Carson with those of a young Stevenson, wandering the streets of San Francisco, gathering material for his fiction, and yearning for his beloved across the bay. An adventure tale, an elegy to one of the greatest writers of our language, a time-traveling plunge into The City by the Bay during its own energetic youth, The Adventures of John Carson in Several Quarters of the World is entertaining, poignant, and sensual.

Reviews of The Adventures of John Carson in Several Quarters of the World: A Novel of Robert Louis Stevenson

"An affectionate homage…a loving reconstruction of an era of storytelling now lost." –The New York Times"Rich prose and a unique perspective on one of the world's most beloved authors…A fine homage to the writing of Stevenson that will suck you into the mind of a working writer." –Publishers Weekly"A tale of bounding energy with a delicate touch, driving always towards the beautiful and the true." –Helen Garner, author of The Spare Room"In Brian Doyle's The Adventures of John Carson in Several Quarters of the World, a character describes the Bay Area as notable for 'a certain profligacy of creation.' That's an apt descriptor for the book itself, a richly layered, altogether enchanting re-imagining of a few months in the life of Robert Louis Stevenson. An homage to the great Scottish writer, a collection of tales both adventurous and romantic, a love letter to San Francisco–it is all of these things. But most of all it is a compelling and profound meditation on the power of stories and story-telling to console and clarify, to carry us out of ourselves, and to connect us each to each in our common humanity. A rare book that is both entirely entertaining and entirely good for you." –Naomi Williams, author of Landfalls -Rich prose and a unique perspective on one of the world's most beloved authors…A fine homage to the writing of Stevenson that will suck you into the mind of a working writer.- –Publisher's Weekly-A tale of bounding energy with a delicate touch, driving always towards the beautiful and the true.- –Helen Garner, author of The Spare Room-In Brian Doyle's The Adventures of John Carson in Several Quarters of the World, a character describes the Bay Area as notable for 'a certain profligacy of creation.' That's an apt descriptor for the book itself, a richly layered, altogether enchanting re-imagining of a few months in the life of Robert Louis Stevenson. An homage to the great Scottish writer, a collection of tales both adventurous and romantic, a love letter to San Francisco–it is all of these things. But most of all it is a compelling and profound meditation on the power of stories and story-telling to console and clarify, to carry us out of ourselves, and to connect us each to each in our common humanity. A rare book that is both entirely entertaining and entirely good for you.- –Naomi Williams, author of Landfalls