The Black Rose, first serialized in 1883, was eventually published as
a novel by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1888. Although it was initially
written for children, and has since remained relatively undervalued by
critics, The Black Rose has garnered praise from such figures as John
Galsworthy for its richly imagined setting and vibrant dialogue.
Set in fifteenth-century England during the infamous War of the Roses,
The Black Arrow follows the young Richard "Dick" Shelton's journey of
growth and discovery in a time of violence and terror. When the outlaws
known as The Black Arrow attack his home, a strange rhyme discovered at
the scene leaves Dick curious as to the true nature of his father's
death. Sent to warn Sir Daniel--who has been chosen to care for Tunstall
until Dick comes of age--the hero meets the heiress Joanna. The two
follow Sir Daniel back to Tunstall, where Dick discovers that his father
was murdered by the man appointed to protect him. In order to get
revenge, and to rescue Joanna from captivity, Dick joins the outlaws of
The Black Arrow and is knighted for his service in battle to the Duke of
Gloucester. A classic of adventure and romance, The Black Arrow is a
novel in which a young man faces down danger in order to protect what he
loves.
Published amid what is arguably Stevenson's most productive decade, The
Black Arrow is often overshadowed by such works as Treasure Island
and Kidnapped. What makes it worth reading, however, is its timeless
tale of perseverance and growth that transports the reader to one of
England's darkest periods. It is both historical and romantic, a story
for children and adults alike. To read Stevenson is to enter a world
unlike any other, and yet so strangely familiar it might be our own.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript,
this new edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Black Arrow is a
classic of literature reimagined for modern readers.
