What to read after An Inland Voyage?

‘An Inland Voyage’ is a fascinating account of a canoe trip made by Stevenson and his good friend Sir Walter Grindlay Simpson from Belgium to France. It is a relaxing account of the their voyage, what they saw and did, their failures as travellers, and no small amount of humour, with Stevenson at one point stranded on a tree as his canoe is swept away.

The text has a philosophical offering as well, that the most beautiful adventures in life are not those we seek. It is a story perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing late night read, or those of you looking for the Victorian Bear Grylls. Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), was an author with a formidable legacy. You will be hard pressed to find anyone alive today who has not come across his work in one form or another. The brilliant mind behind ‘Treasure Island’ and the ‘Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’, has had a profound impact on every aspect of entertainment to this day with his brilliant creations. Despite dealing with ill health all his life he was a prolific traveller, spending his later years in Samoa where he fought vigorously for the rights of the natives, earning their love and respect. R.L Stevenson was a character in his own right, passionate and adventurous, his spirit shines through in his work, from his novels to his travel guides. You simply owe it to yourself to experience his creations, he was a true titan of literature on whose shoulders we all stand.