recounts a journey made by 28-year-old Stevenson across the desolate terrain of south-central France, following unfrequented paths and often sleeping under the stars. It is characterized as a Bohemian trek, an opportunity “to come down off this feather-bed of civilisation, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints” (57). Stevenson’s claim, “I travel for travel’s sake”, echoes the “l’art pour l’art” philosophy of French aestheticism, implying that this travel-book has no didactic or utilitarian purpose, but is rather a personal meditation on life (57). However, the journey did have a purpose: as Stevenson explains to his various hosts in the Cévennes who are puzzled by his apparently aimless wandering, he…
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Citation: Rees, Kathy. "Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 January 2020 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=10093, accessed 23 November 2024.]
