Robert Louis Stevenson Context

Stevenson's parents were both devout and serious Presbyterians, but the household was not incredibly strict. His nurse, Alison Cunningham was more fervently religious. Her Calvinism and folk beliefs were an early source of nightmares for the child; and he showed a precocious concern for religion.

At University Stevenson was moving away from his strict upbringing. His dress became more Bohemian but more importantly, he had come to reject Christianity.

In January 1873, his father came across the constitution of the LJR (Liberty, Justice, Reverence) club of which Stevenson with his cousin Bob was a member, which began "Disregard everything our parents have taught us".

Questioning his son about his beliefs, he discovered the truth, leading to a long period of dissension with both parents.

Stevenson had long been interested in the idea of the duality of human nature and how to incorporate the interplay of good and evil into a story.

One night in late September or early October 1885, Stevenson had a dream, and on wakening had the intuition for two or three scenes that would appear in the story.

"In the small hours of one morning," says Mrs Stevenson, "I was awakened by cries of horror from Louis. Thinking he had a nightmare, I woke him. He said angrily, 'Why did you wake me? I was dreaming a fine bogey tale.' I had awakened him at the first transformation scene ..."

Stevenson re-wrote the story in three to six days, allegedly with the assistance of cocaine. According to Osbourne, "The mere physical feat was tremendous; and instead of harming him, it roused and cheered him inexpressibly". He refined and continued to work on it for four to six weeks afterward.

Its success was probably due more to the "moral instincts of the public" than any perception of its artistic merits; it was widely read by those who never otherwise read fiction, quoted in pulpit sermons and in religious papers.