The Touchstone

by Robert Louis Stevenson, Uri Shulevitz (Illustrator)

Two princes desirous of marrying the same princess are told that whoever shall find the touchstone of truth shall win her.

Genres: Fiction

47 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Robert 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.

Reviews

[Lyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, perhaps, my favorite book. It has fun, simple illustrations, and an insiteful message. I supose it is a children's book. May be difficult to find.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

To quote the flyer, "In finding the touchstone of truth, he has found himself."

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Touchstone by Robert Lewis Stevenson Illustrator Uri Shulevitz- Illustrated story book- The book narrates the story of two princes who desire to marry a princess. Father of the Princess is a saint. Both Princes propose to the Princess propose to the Princess. With a smile, she informs them that they should meet her father. Her father lays the challenging condition that the Prince should find the touchstone of truth shall win her hand in marriage. Both Princess return to their palace with their father. Elder takes his father’s permission and leaves for a mission to find the touchstone of truth. Younger son visits his Treasury and finds a mirror which reflects his true image. He shows the mirror to the Princess’s father. Her father consents to their marriage. Elder son travels and finds various jewels round the world. He tests these jewels and is not satisfied. He travels further and ultimately finds the touchstone of truth. The test is that all jewels are colourless before the touchstone of truth. He returns back and shows the touchstone of truth to the Princess’s father. He informs that as his younger brother had shown a touchstone, he had married the Princess with him. Elder Prince tests his younger brother and the Princess against the touchstone of truth. He finds that they are frail human beings. Now, after travel for so many years, the Elder Prince is old. He has no love for worldly objects. He leaves. Illustrations help the reader in relating to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I'm glad I read it, because I adore RLS and am constantly forcing my poor students to read his poetry, which, in my opinion, gets short shrift when compared to his novels.

But, that said...this didn't do it for me. I know everyone and their mom loves Uri Shulevitz in the vintage children's book blogging world, but his illustrations kind of reminded me of Boris and Mimkha in "Rugrats" and I couldn't take them seriously or countenance that they matched the gravity of the fable.

Additionally, it's pretty depressing, and I wasn't sure I felt the moral was worth the years given to attaining it.

I think I'll stick to poetry that doesn't take itself too seriously. I'm not much of a ponderer when it comes to children's books. If it isn't upfront enough for an adult, God help the poor kiddo who picks it up, expecting an easy adventure.

[Aseret Aldrete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hay mucho aprendizaje en tan breve cuento. Cuánto tiempo invertimos en buscar todo aquello que está dentro de nosotros y cuánto perdemos por dejarnos llevar por las apariencias.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the more memorable of Stevenson's Fables... who knew you didn't need to be Aesop to tell/write fables?

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short little fable shows that Stevenson was a master storyteller in any genre. With all done drawings this book can be appreciated by children and adults alike!