Leo Damrosch

Leo Damrosch, Emeritus Harvard professor and literary biographer, discusses his new life of Robert Louis Stevenson. He explores Stevenson’s vivid storytelling energy, the sources and letters that reshape myths, the origins of Jekyll and Hyde, and Stevenson’s travels, health, and passionate marriage. Short takes on style, public appeal, and underappreciated works round out the conversation.

Alastair Benn guests with Leo Damrosch, a biographer and literary historian known for his work on Robert Louis Stevenson. They delve into the revolutionary structure of 'Jekyll and Hyde,' discussing Stevenson's moral conflicts shaped by his Calvinist upbringing. The conversation reveals inspiration from real-life figures and Stevenson's ties to Edinburgh's culture. Damrosch also highlights Fanny Stevenson's vital role as a critic and their shared life in Samoa, emphasizing how Stevenson's illnesses sparked creativity and complex narratives.