The book begins with a biographical note and appreciation of Stevenson's work by Andrew Lang, who knew Stevenson well. The rest of the book consists of what can be best described as travel writing. The first of the three pieces is an account of a journey with one companion in two canoes from Antwerp across Belgium and into northern France by canal and river. The second describes travels with a donkey for company and portage in central France. Both deal in a sympathetic way with the places and people he met, together with philosophical reflections. The third item is a description of the Edinburgh of his time and previously, and would be of interest to people intending to visit the city today, as much of what he describes still remains. .
