Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1879. This travel memoir details Stevenson’s journey through the rugged Cévennes region of southern France, accompanied by his stubborn donkey, Modestine. In this piece, Stevenson documents his encounters with the landscape and the unique characters he meets along the way, providing insights into rural life and reflecting on his adventures and mishaps.
Stevenson’s journey takes place in the Cévennes, a remote, mountainous area in southern France known for its rugged, untamed beauty. The setting in this scene is wild and lonely—a stretch of grass, rocks, and hills that feels isolated and eerie as dusk falls. The area has a timeless quality, making Stevenson’s encounter with the locals feel like a glimpse into an older, more unrefined world.
The tone is humorous and slightly dark as Stevenson recounts his odd, somewhat frustrating encounters with the local people he meets. His writing is playful and self-aware, especially in how he describes the stubbornness of his donkey and the gruffness of the locals. Despite his challenges, Stevenson’s tone remains upbeat, and his sense of adventure shines through.
In this scene, Stevenson meets a local mother and her son. The son is a tall, gruff, Scottish-looking man who barely acknowledges Stevenson’s questions. His mother is more colorful, striding alongside him in her best clothes while swearing non-stop. She’s described as a tough but respectable woman, contrasting sharply with her unfiltered language. The two locals are unbothered by Stevenson’s desperation, treating his need for directions as an afterthought.
Stevenson’s vivid descriptions of the wild, gloomy landscape effectively convey a strong sense of place. His portrayal of the twilight setting—darkening peaks, shadowy hills, and winding rivers—immerses the reader in the lonely beauty of the Cévennes. He captures the isolation and ruggedness of the region, making the reader feel the disorientation and awe of being in such a wild environment. The use of colorful characters adds to this sense of place, as their gruff mannerisms and local dialect make the landscape feel not only remote but filled with quirky, authentic personalities. Stevenson’s descriptions make the scene feel real and immediate, effectively drawing the reader into his journey.
About the Author
John is a 10th grader from Melbourne, Australia.
He likes to play games, socialise and sing. He dislikes sad stories and bad food.
His ambitions include writing and publishing songs, writing a short novel, learning to cook more, and getting into a course in the science field.