Hardcover, 311 pages
English language
Published Sept. 15, 2001 by Kingfisher.
"For sheer storytelling delight and pure adventure, Treasure Island has never been surpassed. From the moment young Jim Hawkins first encounters the sinister Blind Pew at the Admiral Benbow Inn until the climactic battle for treasure on a tropic isle, the novel creates scenes and characters that have fired the imaginations of generations of readers. Written by a superb prose stylist, a master of both action and atmosphere, the story centers upon the conflict between good and evil - but in this case a particularly engaging form of evil. It is the villainy of that most ambiguous rogue Long John Silver that sets the tempo of this tale of treachery, greed, and daring. Designed to forever kindle a dream of high romance and distant horizons, Treasure Island is, in the words of G. K. Chesterton, 'the realization of an ideal, that which is promised in its provocative and beckoning map; …
"For sheer storytelling delight and pure adventure, Treasure Island has never been surpassed. From the moment young Jim Hawkins first encounters the sinister Blind Pew at the Admiral Benbow Inn until the climactic battle for treasure on a tropic isle, the novel creates scenes and characters that have fired the imaginations of generations of readers. Written by a superb prose stylist, a master of both action and atmosphere, the story centers upon the conflict between good and evil - but in this case a particularly engaging form of evil. It is the villainy of that most ambiguous rogue Long John Silver that sets the tempo of this tale of treachery, greed, and daring. Designed to forever kindle a dream of high romance and distant horizons, Treasure Island is, in the words of G. K. Chesterton, 'the realization of an ideal, that which is promised in its provocative and beckoning map; a vision not only of white skeletons but also green palm trees and sapphire seas.' G. S. Fraser terms it 'an utterly original book' and goes on to write: 'There will always be a place for stories like Treasure Island that can keep boys and old men happy.'
Feels like whenever I read a ~classic~ I inevitably come across some pop cultural reference that I never realized was originally sourced from a book. Turns out in this case I didn't know that "Long John Silver" was the name of a character and not just a fast-food chain.
I got what I wanted out of this book: a bonafide swashbuckling high seas adventure with pirate tropes out the wazoo. And really, it had it all: treasure maps, castaways, talking parrots, peg legs, treachery, scurvy, cannonballs, etc., etc. It was interesting to read what basically amounted to the source material of an entire genre and aesthetic.
Beyond that, this modern-day reader didn't think it was that special plot-wise. The pacing threw me off because despite near-constant action in every chapter, there was a rather abrupt ending I wasn't expecting. Some of the dated slang in the dialogue and in-depth explanations …
Feels like whenever I read a ~classic~ I inevitably come across some pop cultural reference that I never realized was originally sourced from a book. Turns out in this case I didn't know that "Long John Silver" was the name of a character and not just a fast-food chain.
I got what I wanted out of this book: a bonafide swashbuckling high seas adventure with pirate tropes out the wazoo. And really, it had it all: treasure maps, castaways, talking parrots, peg legs, treachery, scurvy, cannonballs, etc., etc. It was interesting to read what basically amounted to the source material of an entire genre and aesthetic.
Beyond that, this modern-day reader didn't think it was that special plot-wise. The pacing threw me off because despite near-constant action in every chapter, there was a rather abrupt ending I wasn't expecting. Some of the dated slang in the dialogue and in-depth explanations of rigging and ship descriptions were hard to follow, and the protagonist (I don't think we're ever given an exact age, but he's referred to as a boy throughout) is so conveniently lucky so many times that it defies belief. But then again, this book was aimed at nineteenth-century children, so I'm clearly not the intended demographic and that's okay.
...what blood and sorrow, what good ships scuttled on the deep, what brave men walking the plank blindfold, what shot of cannon, what shame and lies and cruelty, perhaps no man alive could tell.
Entertaining and surprisingly complex for an adventure book originally intended for a teenage audience. I had a lot of fun with this one, because pirates are always fun. I don't care who you are.
Have you stopped murdering your shipmates, John Silver?
I ges this is what happens when yu write your stories as a serial. I get the idea the author had forgotten about Tom (no last name given) shortly after chapter 14. Yu know, the one John Silver murders in cold blood for not joining his mutiny. Jim sees this murder, is properly shocked at first, but then seems to forget all about it. In the end they take John Silver along and he escapes and lives happily ever after.
I can’t stand that.
Minor points, you could call them gaffes, only, the gaffes you expect of a 18th century schooner are never mentiont.
Have you stopped murdering your shipmates, John Silver?
I ges this is what happens when yu write your stories as a serial. I get the idea the author had forgotten about Tom (no last name given) shortly after chapter 14. Yu know, the one John Silver murders in cold blood for not joining his mutiny. Jim sees this murder, is properly shocked at first, but then seems to forget all about it. In the end they take John Silver along and he escapes and lives happily ever after.
I can’t stand that.
Minor points, you could call them gaffes, only, the gaffes you expect of a 18th century schooner are never mentiont.
This book was mainly written as an interesting story to read and did not teach very many lessons to the reader.
As such, it was very good for a children's book. It was written in simple, understandable language and kept out any bad language that might have been a result of the pirates swearing.
I highly recommend this book to children or adults who want to have a break from books with lessons and simply want to read an interesting story.
I am embarrassed to say I knew neither the original nor the aeronautical meaning of the word leeway. It is extraordinary how much of pirate lore comes from this book. Also, although written in 1881 close to the time of the discovery of the tubercle bacillus, Stevenson either still believed in the miasma theory or he put it in the mouth of his 18th century Dr. Livesey for historical verisimilitude (unlikely).
Really enjoyed it as a kid. Less so now.
I had no idea that Long John Silver was anything but seafood, fast food style. Shiver me timbers! This would have been a more enjoyable read for me thirty years ago, I think, but still, it was interesting. Stevenson did do his homework.
https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/robert-louis-stevenson/treasure-island.https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/robert-louis-stevenson/treasure-island.