Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of “buccaneers and buried gold”. First published as a book on 23 May 1883, it was originally serialized in the children’s magazine Young Folks between 1881 and 1882 under the title Treasure Island or, the mutiny of the Hispaniola with Stevenson adopting the pseudonym Captain George North. Traditionally considered a coming-of-age story, Treasure Island is a tale noted for its atmosphere, characters and action, and also as a wry commentary on the ambiguity of morality – as seen in Long John Silver – unusual for children’s literature. It is one of the most frequently dramatized of all novels. The influence of Treasure Island on popular perceptions of pirates is enormous, including such elements as treasure maps marked with an “X”, schooners, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen bearing parrots on their shoulders.Climb aboard for the swashbuckling adventure of a lifetime. Treasure Islandhas enthralled (and caused slight seasickness) for decades. The names Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins are destined to remain pieces of folklore for as long as children want to read Robert Louis Stevenson’s most famous book. With it’s dastardly plot and motley crew of rogues and villains, it seems unlikely that children will ever say no to this timeless classic. –Naomi Gesinger
Shiver me timbers, ’tis a good read My recent read of The Brethren Prince got me thinking of Treasure Island, which I had read 45+ years ago, as a boy. I decided it was time to give the book a second look. I enjoyed it. ‘Twas easy to see, written as it was, from young Jim Hawkin’s perspective, how this was a book tailored to boys. Of course, Jim sure had a lot of good luck, to make it…
A Great Swashbuckling Adventure Tale – Long John Silver This is a story of a young man on a great adventure to a secret island with buccaneers. There is a good deal of swashbuckling adventure. The protagonist is a youthful male who is the narrator. The youth leaves home to go on a great sailing adventure. The style is late Victorian with no foul language. The chapters are short and it is easy to sit and read a chapter at a time.Â
No Boy Ever Really Outgrows Treasure Island Treasure Island was written 130 years ago and it remains one of the great adventure tales of all time. I originally read it when I was about ten years old and, fifty years later, I recently re-read it in the Kindle edition. The fact that the book brings as much pleasure now as it did then is an indication of how good it really is. Stevenson truly hit the ball out of the park with this one.Â