''The Wrong Box'' is a

black comedy Black comedy, also known as dark comedy, morbid humor, or gallows humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discu ...

novel co-written by

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll a ...

and

Lloyd Osbourne Samuel Lloyd Osbourne (April 7, 1868 – May 22, 1947) was an American author and the stepson of the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, with whom he co-authored three books, including '' The Wrecker'', and provided input and ideas on oth ...

, first published in 1889. The story is about two brothers who are the last two surviving members of a

tontine A tontine () is an investment linked to a living person which provides an income for as long as that person is alive. Such schemes originated as plans for governments to raise capital in the 17th century and became relatively widespread in the 18 ...

. The book was the first of three novels that Stevenson co-wrote with Osbourne, who was his stepson. The others were '' The Wrecker'' (1892) and '' The Ebb-Tide'' (1894). Osbourne wrote the first draft of the novel late in 1887 (then called ''The Finsbury Tontine''), Stevenson revised it in 1888 (then called ''A Game of Bluff'') and again in 1889 when it was finally called ''The Wrong Box''. A film adaptation, also titled ''

The Wrong Box ''The Wrong Box'' is a 1966 British comedy film produced and directed by Bryan Forbes from a screenplay by Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove, based on the 1889 novel '' The Wrong Box'' by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne. It was made by ...

'', was released in 1966, and a musical in 2002.

Literary significance and reception

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...

, in a letter to his friend Edmonia Hill (dated September 17, 1889), praised the novel:

Adaptation

'' was filmed in 1966 starring

Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite; 14 March 1933) is an English actor. Known for his distinctive Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films in a career spanning seven decades, and is considered a British film ico ...

. The novel was also adapted as a stage musical in 2002, and a studio cast recording of the show was released in August 2013.

References

External links

* 1889 British novels Novels by Robert Louis Stevenson Black comedy books British novels adapted into films Collaborative novels Scottish novels {{1880s-novel-stub