Scientific Charles Recalls a Poetic Stevenson

SCRAPS, the full title being Scientific Charles Recalls a Poetic Stevenson, written by Charles Alexander Stevenson, was an idea the author had recalling and correcting some impressions of his cousin Robert Louis Stevenson and of life in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders, in the 19th century. Much has been published about RLS as a writer, however here we have a first hand account from his cousin, of the young man, his family, within the context of the environment in which he was brought up. Charles Stevenson provides an intimate and authentic description of this Scottish writer in his early years before he became famous. In the latter part of his life, Charles Stevenson, despite his failing health, remained determined that the manuscript of his compiled recollections should be completed as a published book. With the help of his daughter, May (Evelyn Mary Yeoman), he was able to dictate his thoughts, which she would transcribe each day prior to his corrections and amendments. The process ended on Charles' death in 1950 and it is only now that this project has finally come to fruition.

Table of Contents:
Family Context Introduction - How This Book Came About Robert Stevenson - The First of the Stevenson Engineers Robert's Volunteering Heredity The Heredity of Women Mrs Stevenson Enjoys her Sons' Fun Louis - A Quick Introduction Louis' Enjoyment of Life Thoughts of Childhood in Verse Louis' Dog Coolin Thomas Stevenson - The Boy's Father Louis in Prison - The Snowball Riot Louis' Literary Work Devoid of Boasting Iona and Dhu Heartach Alan and the Stevenson Gaiety of Spirit Muckle Flugga and North Unst Louis' Playground The Pavilion on the Links Dirleton Quicksand North Berwick and the Islets Damming the Eel Burn The Black Rock Boating Louis - A Lover of Soap Bells Golf Kite Flying Catriona Summer Quarters at North Berwick Louis at North Berwick Trip to Italy and a Missed Ball Louis' Other Cousins Edinburgh in the 19th Century The Edinburgh Skating Club The Bugle Call and its Revival A Comparison of Homelife 25 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh Melville Street - Another Stevenson Home Louis as a Companion From a Railway Carriage And More of Louis Louis' Theatricals America Preface to Louis' Scots Poems At North Berwick Law The Speculative Society A Dinner Speech The Royal Society of Edinburgh In Narrow Waters Louis' Ladder of Fame D. Alan Stevenson The Pharos of Alexandria A Final Thought Appendix

About the Author :
Charles A. Stevenson (1855-1950) was famous as the last of the Scottish Lighthouse dynasty. Apart from being responsible for the design and building of 23 lighthouses around Scotland, he had much wider engineering skills than his forebears. Educated at the Edinburgh Academy before going on to study mathematics and engineering at the University of Edinburgh. Noted for his experiments with optics and sound, as well as inventing a first wireless communication system, prior to Marconi. In 1886 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Charles married Margaret Sherriff, they had a son David Alan and daughters Frances and May (Evelyn Mary), the latter becoming the transcriber for his book SCRAPS, published posthumously. Charles was the first cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson, both of whose fathers were lighthouse engineers. Roderick Groundes-Peace is the great grandson of Charles A. Stevenson and grandson of May (Evelyn Mary Yeoman). He took the opportunity to bring SCRAPS to publication more than 70 years after the manuscript was last worked upon.