"Picaresque.Doyle has mastered the trick of channeling the Scot's distinctive voice and cadence through his own memorable style." -- The Oregonian "An affectionate homage.a loving reconstruction of an era of storytelling now lost." -- The New York Times "[A] triumph.If a writer is going to put on Stevenson's voice, he'd better, as the poets say, "bring it." Reader, Doyle has brought it. Adventures is a tonic for our bitter times.

" -- Washington Post "An accomplished writer celebrates the nascent inspiration of a legendary one in this tender, affectionate, and terribly fun homage to the joys of storytelling and storytellers." -- Kirkus Reviews "Doyle's irresistible novel, which practically begs to be read aloud, is a triumphant ode to the power of storytelling." -- Booklist "Rich prose and a unique perspective on one of the world's most beloved authors.A fine homage to the writing of Stevenson that will suck you into the mind of a working writer." -- Publisher's Weekly "A tale of bounding energy with a delicate touch, driving always towards the beautiful and the true." --Helen Garner, author of The Spare Room "In Brian Doyle's The Adventures of John Carson in Several Quarters of the World , a character describes the Bay Area as notable for 'a certain profligacy of creation.' That's an apt descriptor for the book itself, a richly layered, altogether enchanting re-imagining of a few months in the life of Robert Louis Stevenson. An homage to the great Scottish writer, a collection of tales both adventurous and romantic, a love letter to San Francisco--it is all of these things.

But most of all it is a compelling and profound meditation on the power of stories and story-telling to console and clarify, to carry us out of ourselves, and to connect us each to each in our common humanity. A rare book that is both entirely entertaining and entirely good for you." --Naomi Williams, author of Landfalls.