Why is the story of Stevenson's Scottish nanny likely included in the passage?

• A. To demonstrate that those who preserve the trivial also value the serious.
• B. To expose the nanny as a charlatan.
• C. To establish the pervasiveness of the desire to collect an author's mementos.
• D. To demonstrate the popularity of Stevenson's books.

Answer: (C)

The inclusion of Stevenson's Scottish nanny in the passage serves to highlight the widespread desire among individuals to collect and cherish mementos associated with authors. This context illustrates how personal artifacts tied to notable writers or figures can hold significant emotional and cultural value for both the collectors and the broader public. By mentioning the nanny, the passage emphasizes that this phenomenon is not limited to formal collectors or literary critics, but extends to everyday people who have connections to the author, further reinforcing the idea that mementos enrich the relationship between the public and the literary works. This connection helps illuminate the broader themes of memory, nostalgia, and the significance of personal connections to art and literature, validating the idea that such collections are a meaningful and pervasive human impulse.