"She was patient, elegant in form, the colour of an ideal mouse, and inimitably small."

That’s Robert Louis Stevenson’s loving description of Modestine the Donkey. In 1879, the pair became traveling companions on a hike through France. Along the way, Stevenson describes the beauty of the countryside and the people they encounter, while also reflecting on his own personal history.

Lyrical and surprising, this travelogue makes for a hugely enjoyable ramble through Stevenson’s mind. And in Modestine, he creates a character you won’t forget.



Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet and travel writer. Born in Edinburgh, he suffered from severe health issues for most of his life. Despite this, he still managed to produce some of the century’s most famous stories. These include the classic adventure "Treasure Island" and the horror novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".

Stevenson’s last years were spent on the Samoan island of Upolo, where he became an advocate for Samoan rights. He died in his home of a brain haemorrhage and was buried on the island’s Mount Vaea.

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