| Author |
Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894 |
| Title |
Father Damien: An Open Letter to the Reverend Dr. Hyde of Honolulu
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 69.0 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Transcribed from the 1914 Chatto & Windus edition by David Price
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| Summary |
"Father Damien: An Open Letter to the Reverend Dr. Hyde of Honolulu" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a critical and passionate defense written in the late 19th century, reflecting the Victorian era's perspectives on morality and heroism. The book serves as an open letter in response to Reverend Dr. Hyde's disparaging comments about Father Damien, a missionary who dedicated his life to caring for leprosy patients on Molokai. The likely topic of the book centers around the defense of Damien's character and actions in light of the injustices and misrepresentations made by his detractors. In this open letter, Stevenson confronts Reverend Dr. Hyde's unjust criticisms of Father Damien with fervor and eloquence. He dissects Hyde's letter, which claims Damien was a "coarse, dirty man" who sought personal glory rather than altruistic motives. Stevenson refutes these claims by highlighting Damien's selfless commitment to the lepers, describing his sacrifices and the gratitude he earned from those he served. Throughout the letter, Stevenson captures the essence of Damien's humanity, portraying him as a flawed but noble figure whose contributions to society transcend the criticisms he faced. By emphasizing Damien's dedication amidst abject suffering and the failure of institutional support, Stevenson presents a powerful argument in favor of recognizing Damien as a true hero. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
BX: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity: Churches, Church movements
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| Subject |
Damien, Saint, Father, 1840-1889
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
281 |
| Release Date |
Jun 1, 1995 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Feb 28, 2007 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
163 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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