The April of Her Age: The Buried Treasure of Robert Louis Stevenson & Princess Victoria Kaiulani [Paperback]

John Cummins Mebane (Author), Paul M. Souza (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Windward Pub Co (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964184419
• ISBN-13: 978-0964184411
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #823,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "April of Her Age" promotes false idea of real people, March 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The April of Her Age: The Buried Treasure of Robert Louis Stevenson & Princess Victoria Kaiulani (Paperback)

It is sad to see this fanciful novel about half-Kanaka Maoli/half-Scottish Princess Ka'iulani perceived as "history" by the general public. As a member of the Hawaiian Historical Society, The Friends of 'Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum and other Hawaiian organizations,I can say there is utterly no basis for the notion that Robert Louis Stevenson and Crown Princess Ka'iulani had anything other than the briefest and most innocent of friendships. The Princess was a CHILD when Stevenson knew her, and they NEVER had contact - not even letters - again. Because this book - which people should remember is a NOVEL - makes use of Hawai'i State Archives photos as illustrations, some people make the mistake of thinking there is a basis for this notion of an "erotic" relationship between RLS and Ke Ali'i Ka'iulani; it is frightening to think this idea may be people's introduction to Ka'iulani's life...an impression that will damage understanding of Kanaka Maoli history. As for Stevenson - most scholars paint a uniform picture of him as constitutionally attracted to older women.

While cleverly written, the upshot of this fanciful "romance" is that it reinforces old unfounded gossip about a "pregnancy", and ignores many known facts about Ka'iulani's life, including the central fact that her health was broken by the trauma her country's take-over by the U.S. caused her. It manipulates the reader into serious misunderstanding, and submerges the life of a real heroine beneath fantasy. That the author constantly refers to her as "Victoria" (which her friends and family did not)seems like a denial of her Kanaka Maoli self in favor of her "white" self...a very troubling detail.

Robert Louis Stevenson and Ka'iulani were NOT "lovers"! The Princess was not the sexually precocious "south seas" stereotype the author presents, but a schoolgirl barely in her teens, and an Ali'i of great mana and dignity besides.

The recent Mutual Publishing paperback reprint of the classic Ka'iulani biography "Kaiulani, Crown Princess of Hawaii" by Nancy and Jean Francis Webb is a must-read for those interested in the REAL Princess, and the new young adult bio by Sharon Linnea is also a good intro to her life and times. Also not to be missed is Kristin Zambucka's excellent update of Hawai'i" (Green Glass Pub.). These tell the real story and don't confuse the unfamiliar with fantasies manufactured out of whole cloth.

If Amazon. com cares about "equal time" and free speech, and multicultural issues in general it will print this. Four glowing "reviews" ought to have some counter balance

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hawaiian people have been exploited & distorted thruout hist, July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The April of Her Age: The Buried Treasure of Robert Louis Stevenson & Princess Victoria Kaiulani (Paperback)

I am a part-Hawaiian woman who grew up in Hawai'i. The history of the Hawaiian people has been a cruel and sad testament to humanity. Princess Ka'iulani's life was one such tragedy. Hollywood and the media have distorted and exploited the Hawaiian people and the lands of Hawai'i for years. This book adds insult to injury, and is written with the utmost irreverence to the true beauty of our beloved Ka'iu. If you truly love and respect Princess Ka'iulani and Hawai'i, you will seek out the truth, not the Hawaiian-hype you have been force-fed. Respect the native people and their native lands.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a mess!, June 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The April of Her Age: The Buried Treasure of Robert Louis Stevenson & Princess Victoria Kaiulani (Paperback)

This book takes 2 real-life historical figures: Princess Victoria Ka'iulani Cleghorn of Hawai'i and author Robert Louis Stevenson and turns their very brief and innocent friendship (she was 13 years old)into a mumbo-jumbo of New Age romance and Science Fiction time-travel. There is no historical accuracy in this completely fictionalized account of a "romance" between these 2 real-life people. You are MUCH better off reading any of the well known biographies of them than this book. This book shows complete disrespect towards both Princess Ka'iulani and Mr. Stevenson's memory.