Robert Louis Stevenson was a 19th century Scottish essayist, poet, novelist, and travel writer. His most famous works are Kidnapped, Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Treasure Island. A Footnote to History: Eight Years of Trouble in Samoa is a historical work describing the Samoan Civil War. Stevenson arrived in Samoa in 1889 and became interested in the political atmosphere in the country. Three colonial powers were battling for control of Samoa - America, Germany and Britain - and the indigenous factions were struggling to preserve their ancient political system. Stevenson sided with the Samoans to the point of going on raids and skirmishes with them.