Familiar studies of men and books

This book is excellent, engaging essays by Stevenson about a variety of Scottish, French, American, and Japanese writers / figures. The ones about French medieval writers Charles of Orleans and Francois Villon are especially good, as are the ones on Hugo, Whitman, and Pepys. One might not always agree with author's neglect of the works for the men or, alternatively, his conclusions about these writers, but the essays provide a fascinating glimpse of how Stevenson negotiates literary history.