In The South Seas

In the South Seas is a work of non-fiction by the Scottish writer and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, author of the famous Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It recounts his travels and experiences in the Pacific ocean. During the voyage, he was accompanied by his wife, Fanny, as well as by other members of his family. However, his personal purpose was not mere entertainment, but rather to collect material for a serious work on the South Seas and on the life and cultures of their inhabitants. The journey lasted about two years during which the family travelled from the Marquesas Islands to Tahiti, and then to Honolulu to finally reach the Samoan Islands. As a social scientist, Stevenson draws an in-depth survey as well as an anthropological analysis of the inhabitants’ lifestyles, cultures, arts and religious beliefs. His accounts are flavored with his personal impressions and humorous anecdotes. It is equally noteworthy that Stevenson’s work also tries to offer a balanced viewpoint without the usual white man’s prejudices about indigenous islanders. At certain moments, he even expresses contempt for the missionary campaigns which are often dehumanizing and humiliating according to him.