Across the plains

Robert Louis Stevenson. In the Scottish canon to be placed alongside Burns for your poems is high praise indeed but it's a rightful place for one of Scotland's finest novelists.

Born in 1850 he managed to cram much into his 44 years travelling widely to France, the United States, Samoa and the South Seas.

Of course he is widely feted for his classics Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde, Treasure Island and poetry volumes such as A Child's Garden Of Verses and short storeis such The Body Snatchers.

All offer compelling examples of narration superbly reduced to their essence.

This volume 'Across The Plains' is another distinctive facet to his works. And yes, superbly written.