A Christmas Sermon Author:Robert Louis Stevenson The life of Robert Louis Stevenson spanned a mere forty years, short by modern standards. And yet by any measure it was extremely productive. — Despite a frail appearance, Stevenson lived life to its fullest. Battling parental expectations and poor health in his early years, he embarked on a career of his own choosing, married against his fami... more »ly's wishes, and lived a life of adventure and extensive travel. No wonder he has been called by at least one critic a Victorian rebel. Stevenson's death was as unique as his life. On December 3,1894, he died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage on Upolu in the Samoan Islands. At sunrise the next day, Samoan men cleared a path to the top of Mount Vaca, where, as he had requested, the celebrated writer was buried at the summit. Inscribed on his tomb are the words of his Requiem.« less