Isobel Osbourne
Encyclopedia
Isobel "Belle" Osbourne Strong Field (1858-1953) was Robert Louis Stevenson
's step-daughter and sister of Lloyd Osbourne
. She was born in Indianapolis to Samuel and Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne.
Belle married the artist Joseph Strong (1853-1899) in 1879 and gave birth to a son Austin Strong (1881-1952), who went on to become a successful playwright. Joe Strong had a drinking problem and Belle divorced him in 1892. In 1914, she married her mother’s secretary (and possibly lover), the younger journalist Edward Salisbury Field
, six months after her mother died. Field was only three years older than her son Austin. When oil was discovered on property owned by Field they became wealthy. In 1926 Field purchased Zaca Lake and surrounding land in the Figueroa Mountains near Los Olivos, California
. Isobel built an artists studio there and the Field home became a popular meeting place for writers and actors.
Isobel and her brother Lloyd wrote about Robert Louis Stevenson and their experiences in Samoa in Memories of Vailima (1902). Belle wrote her memoirs in This Life I’ve Loved (1937) and A Bit of My Life (1951).
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
's step-daughter and sister of Lloyd Osbourne
Lloyd Osbourne
Samuel Lloyd Osbourne was an American author and the stepson of Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson with whom he would co-author three books and provide input and ideas on others.-Early life:...
. She was born in Indianapolis to Samuel and Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne.
Belle married the artist Joseph Strong (1853-1899) in 1879 and gave birth to a son Austin Strong (1881-1952), who went on to become a successful playwright. Joe Strong had a drinking problem and Belle divorced him in 1892. In 1914, she married her mother’s secretary (and possibly lover), the younger journalist Edward Salisbury Field
Edward Salisbury Field
Edward Salisbury Field was an American author, playwright, artist, poet, and journalist. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Edward Salisbury and Sarah Mills Hubbard Field...
, six months after her mother died. Field was only three years older than her son Austin. When oil was discovered on property owned by Field they became wealthy. In 1926 Field purchased Zaca Lake and surrounding land in the Figueroa Mountains near Los Olivos, California
Los Olivos, California
Los Olivos is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California. The ZIP Code is 93441, and the community is inside area code 805...
. Isobel built an artists studio there and the Field home became a popular meeting place for writers and actors.
Isobel and her brother Lloyd wrote about Robert Louis Stevenson and their experiences in Samoa in Memories of Vailima (1902). Belle wrote her memoirs in This Life I’ve Loved (1937) and A Bit of My Life (1951).