Robert Louis Stevenson, the great Scottish writer, was often harshly treated by the critics. Chesterton was a great admirer of his work and his 'beautiful and piercing sense of the clarity of form'.

With critical insight and perceptive analysis, Chesterton explores Stevenson's life and relates the biographical details to his work in an intelligent and subtle study of the creator of Kidnapped and The Strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.