the early 20th century, however, many critics had soured on him, dismissing him as a mere children's writer.
What is to be made of Stevenson's ca- reer? "Given all that he had to overcome to achieve what he did," says Epstein, who teaches at Northwestern, "there is simply no setting aside his life." And yet, he con- cludes, Stevenson "was the literary equiva- lent of the decathlon athlete: competing in 10 difficult events yet holding world records in none." Writing...