Originally written for Stevenson's young American stepson, TREASURE ISLAND is a lighter read and less mature than his other works. Still, it is a highly entertaining, fast-paced novel that certainly deserves its status as a classic in English literature. Being perhaps the most influential book on the pirate mythos, this is one that you'll find familiar even if you've never read it before. From the one-legged Long John Silver and his motley band of scoundrels to treasure maps where 'X' marks the spot, this is the book that helped shape 'gentlemen of fortune' in many books and stories since then.
Jim Hawkins, the young hero of the story, is the principle narrator, telling the story of his adventure in a rather breathless manner. Sometimes obscure details are described while traumatic scenes are sort of glossed over. In this way, the story really takes on a realistic feel, as Jim tells his story the way he remembers it. Unquestionably brave, Jim doesn't gloat on his accomplishments and victories, but relates the story in a modest way, hardly hesitating to describe his fear and admit his weaknesses.
The other characters really drive the story. Long John Silver and all the pirates are some of the most colorful characters you'll ever find. Rough, deceitful, and hard, their motivations are never difficult to discern. Their sometimes hilarious manner of speaking displays their character and brings them to life like no amount of purely descriptive writing could. Jim Hawkins' friends are much less interesting as characters, but are nonetheless important. The squire, the doctor, and their men play key parts in the tale but are never really the focus of readers' attention. To be honest, compared to the other characters, they are rather dull.
Robert Louis Stevenson's first published work is highly entertaining, but somewhat less mature than his other work. |
Treasure Island (Barnes Books In Print, Audio Books.