The latest podcast is yet a further celebration of all things Stevenson on the day of his birth, as if that were needed. By now I hope you’ve managed to at least have a look, and a listen, to Stevenson’s Strange Tales, a project we have been involved with alongside the Association for Scottish Literary Studies.
But, with the podcast, we wanted to put Stevenson into a wider perspective in terms of his literary importance, how he was viewed when he was alive, and his continuing fame and influence.
To do so, Ali and Ian were joined by writer Louise Welsh and Scots Whay Hae! regular, Ronnie Young. The discussion starts with a chat about their favourite Stevenson stories, and soon meanders back to childhood, takes in the the importance of light(houses), hears of the influences on RLS, and considers just how many Stevenson’s there were. From Braemar to the South Sea Islands; from supposed children’s tales, through essays about home and abroad, to psychological nightmare and addiction, the conversation throws up many interesting tit bits of Stevenson legend and lore. There’s also an hidden extra treat, but you’ll have to listen to the very end to hear that, (or fast forward, I suppose).
We hope everyone will find something of interest here, and that you will listen to the Strange Tales our readers Alan Bissett, James Robertson and Louise herself have recorded with just a little more insight than you may have done before. If you haven’t heard them yet, you can do so on our Stevenson page, but there are other ways.
The podcast can be found by going to iTunes, where you will also be able to download all three tales. If you subscribe you can get all our previous podcasts, three of which feature our guest readers, and you can also listen on RSS.
And that is all from us on Robert Louis Stevenson Day. It’s been emotional, but fantastic. It is said about Tam Dale, in the ‘Tale of Tod Lapraik’, that he was “fond of a ran-dan”, and in that spirit we’re off out to raise a glass to RLS. Cheers!