The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson: The black arrow. Prince Otto

This volume is part of the comprehensive library editions of Robert Louis Stevenson's works, compiled and published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to consolidate the author's prolific output. The collection was designed to provide a cohesive, durable record of his fiction, encompassing both his widely celebrated adventure novels and his more experimental, nuanced political romances. By grouping these specific titles together, publishers aimed to balance the commercial popularity of Stevenson’s historical swashbucklers with the prestige of his lesser-known psychological narratives.

The Black Arrow, originally serialized in 1883, was written during a period when Stevenson was struggling for financial stability and cater to the tastes of young readers, while Prince Otto, published in 1885, represents a deliberate shift toward the stylized, satirical romance. Critics at the time often noted the striking stylistic contrast between the two, yet they were frequently bound in these collected formats to showcase the author's versatility. These editions became staples in personal libraries, favored for their uniform aesthetic and the enduring literary reputation Stevenson maintained following his death.