Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Robert Louis StevensonIllustrator: Robert Ingpen
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-09-01
ISBN: 0954510364
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Palazzo Editions
Book Reviews of Treasure Island
Book Review: "First and last, we've split upon Jim Hawkins!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Unfairly dismissed as a writer who wrote simple adventure stories, the popularity and longevity of Stevenson's novels have allowed them to join the literary greats, the most famous of which is "Treasure Island" (followed closely by Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (Tor Classics) and Kidnapped (Scholastic Classics)). To say that it is a classic is an understatement, as everyone knows of the one-legged pirate Silver, the dreaded black spot, the buried treasure on the mysterious island, the stretched-out skeleton that points the way, and of course that infamous scene of young Hawkins overhearing the pirates from within the apple barrel. Yet, as is often the way with classics, everyone knows certain aspects of it, though comparatively few people have read the book itself. Instead, most are introduced to the story through movie adaptations (and there have been a few, from the memorable Disney classic Treasure Island to the definitive 1930s Treasure Island, to the inexplicable sci-fi version Treasure Planet. Heck, even the Muppets got in on the act with Muppet Treasure Island - Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition).
So, here's your chance to read the original work as penned by an excellent storyteller. Told in first-person narrative by the young Jim Hawkins, we learn of an old buccaneer at the Admiral Benbow Inn, a man named Billy Bones who leaves Jim in possession of a treasure map. It doesn't take Jim long to release that he's not the only one after this map, and together with figures like Doctor Livesey, Squire Trelawney and Captain Smollet, he sets sail upon the Hispaniola as cabin boy to the mysterious Treasure Island. Hawkins makes particular friends with the ship's cook, Long John Silver, a cheerful and quick-witted sailor who is surprising nimble despite having only one leg. But as the ship nears closer to its destination, Hawkins becomes aware of rumblings of mutiny amongst the crew - to kill the officers and snatch the treasure for themselves.
Once they reach the island, the plot really kicks into high gear, as Jim is torn between the officers and the pirates, and the race to the treasure begins. On three separate occasions Hawkins acts recklessly, and yet each time his actions take a serendipitous turn and result in favorable outcomes. As such, "Treasure Island" is just as much a coming-of-age story as an adventure tale for young Jim, as he learns to take care of himself, take the initiative, learn not to judge by appearances, and separate friends from enemies. This is especially true of Long John Silver, easily the novel's most fascinating character. Devious, untrustworthy, charismatic, intelligent and able to switch sides at the blink of an eye, you never really know what to make of Silver, save that you cannot help but admire him. Despite all his double-crosses, he seems legitimately fond of Jim, and even Stevenson himself can't bring himself to send Silver to the gallows. In fact, Stevenson had originally titled the manuscript "The Sea-Cook" before this was vetoed by his publishers, shedding light on the importance of Silver within the context of the novel.
Although it has entirely British cast, "Treasure Island" has an American dimension to it, perhaps owing to Stevenson's years in California - whatever the reason, it's hard to shake the feeling that the story has been "adopted" by American culture. Likewise, despite the fact that there is only one female character in the entire novel (Jim's feisty mother), it would be wrong to think it's exclusively for boys. There are plenty of thrills to be had for readers of both genders, and because it is a surprisingly slim volume written in action-filled prose, there's no reason not to think children of a reasonably young age can read it themselves. This edition in particularly is noteworthy, beautifully bound and illustrated - though any unabridged manuscript is more than enough.
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