Arthur Ransome's Long-lost Study of Robert Louis Stevenson

This is the first publication of a remarkable book by Ransome.originally commissioned in 1910, the manuscript, when nearly complete, was sequestered by Ransome's second wife, Evgenia Shelepina, in 1914 (remembering she had been Trotsky's secretary and Ransome did actually spy for England - was the infact a double-agent? and the never saw it again. It came to light by chance, long after his death.! When most books on Stevenson were biographical or merely adultery, Ransome intended this book to be the first true 'critical study'. As such the does give an exceptionally personal and perceptive account of the strengths and weaknesses of Stevenson as a man and writer. Stevenson in fact remained a lifelong inspiration to Ransome. This is the only manuscript first draft of a work by him to survive and,as such, provides a unique insight into his working methods.