Father Damien: An Open Letter | |
Robert Louis Stevenson | |
This is a truly remarkable work from one of the best | |
adventure writers of our or any time. Typically engaged in | |
the authorship of such delightful excursions as | |
Kidnapped and Treasure Island, Robert Louis | |
Stevenson read a denunciation of Father Damien of | |
Molokai---the priest who famously gave his life in the | |
service of the lepers of Molokai island, and has since | |
become Saint Damien---and was concerned. Stevenson, himself | |
a Protestant, was troubled by the denunciation he'd read in | |
a religious paper, which had been written by a fellow | |
Protestant. It is a scathing response to the author, a | |
systematic take-down of style and substance, without ever | |
descending into profanity or vulgar sniping. Stevenson | |
reveals himself to be an author and thinker of surprising | |
depth. Short and well worth a read. 13 pp., English. | |
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