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More New Arabian Nights: The Dynamiter, The Story of a Lie
Black & white frontispiece by William H. Hyde. Cover "The Novels and Tales of Robert Louis Stevenson" Half-title page indicates this is Robert Louis Stevenson, Vol. III.
345 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1885
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About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson
6,982 books7,009 followersRobert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of English literature. He was greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling and Vladimir Nabokov.
Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.
Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 31, 2026
I think three stars is generous for this. There are two short books in this volume.
The first book is "The Dynamiter" which is a collection of short stories under the identity of "More New Arabian Nights" from Stevenson who tries to create interlocking short stories which feature the overarching plot of someone trying to bomb people with dynamite. Sadly, the stories don't run well together and seem somewhat arbitrary as a collection. Also, they incredibly reinforce the fact that Stevenson cannot write female characters. The most interesting portion was Stevenson's odd depiction of his ideas regarding Mormonism where a Mormon priest was in London, capturing a young woman to be his bride using mesmerism, and trying to work some special magic to create the illusion he is young again.
"The Story of a Lie" flows better as a novella but does not exactly grab one's attention.
The first book is "The Dynamiter" which is a collection of short stories under the identity of "More New Arabian Nights" from Stevenson who tries to create interlocking short stories which feature the overarching plot of someone trying to bomb people with dynamite. Sadly, the stories don't run well together and seem somewhat arbitrary as a collection. Also, they incredibly reinforce the fact that Stevenson cannot write female characters. The most interesting portion was Stevenson's odd depiction of his ideas regarding Mormonism where a Mormon priest was in London, capturing a young woman to be his bride using mesmerism, and trying to work some special magic to create the illusion he is young again.
"The Story of a Lie" flows better as a novella but does not exactly grab one's attention.
Displaying 1 of 1 review