top of page

RLS and Balfour


They nearly met! In April 1887 RLS wrote to his friend W E Henley asking him to contact Eustace Balfour, a fellow member of the Savile Club in London, asking for RLS to be put in touch with his elder brother Arthur. He wanted a 30 minute private meeting. RLS was incensed by Balfour's treatment of the Irish. He naively believed that if he could meet Arthur, RLS could change his mind.
​
Arthur James Balfour had extensive estates at Whittinghame in East Lothian. He was obsessed with golf, and would regularly stay in North Berwick for lengthy periods.
​
Had they met the conversation might well have gone like this.....
RLS meets - Balfour Part 1 of 3
00:00 / 00:00
bottom of page