Welcome to Bedtime History. Hello, this is Breck.

If you enjoy the show, be sure to subscribe to be notified about new episodes,

and to get our entire catalog of episodes ad-free, you can subscribe via Apple Podcasts. Also be sure to check

out our 400-plus educational videos on our YouTube channel. We also have a new show called

Bedtime Safari, so look for the link in the show notes of our most recent episodes.

Close your eyes and imagine you're standing on the deck of a wooden ship,

the kind that creaks softly as it moves across the sea.

The air smells like salt and adventure.

Seabirds call overhead, and the ocean stretches out in every direction, blue and endless.

In your pocket is a notebook, ready to be filled with ideas.

You're not just traveling to new places, you're collecting stories.

This is how Robert Louis Stevenson often felt,

turning journeys into tales that readers would love for generations.

Robert Louis Stevenson was born on November 13, 1850, in Edinburgh, Scotland, a city known

for its winding streets, steep hills, and tall stone buildings.

Fog often drifted through the city, and old castles and narrow alleyways made it feel mysterious,

like a place where stories were waiting to be discovered.

From his window, young Robert could see rooftops and chimneys stretching into the distance,

and he often imagined adventures taking place just beyond what he could see.

As a child, Robert was often sick and spent many days resting in bed.

Because of this, he couldn't always run outside or play rough games like other children.

Instead, his world became quieter but richer in imagination.

...