Treasure Island

By Robert Louis Stevenson and Carlo Molinari

Introduce young readers to classic novels with exciting adaptations and fresh art

• Language: English
• Publisher: Starry Forest Books
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781951784591

Robert Louis Stevenson

Poet and novelist Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was the author of a number of classic books for young readers, including Treasure Island , Kidnapped, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Mr. Stevenson was often ill as a child and spent much of his youth confined to his nursery, where he first began to compose stories even before he could read, and where he was cared for by his nanny, Alison Cunningham, to whom A Child's Garden of Verses is dedicated.

Book preview

Reviews for Treasure Island

[agentx216 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Probably one of the most iconic pirate novels of all time and considered a classic piece of literature. The story is fine and the plot moves along although the flow definitely felt a bit more jilted than what current literature is. The characters tend to make the book with the main character and Long John Silver as the two preeminent ones; although there are other enjoyable ones. Honestly, I would have enjoyed the book more if there were more pirates and the story told more in their camp. Overall, a good book. However, I will commit literature heresy and say that it's not a great book. Final Grade - C

[thedivineoomba · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Its Treasure Island, which I read when I was just a lowly 7th grader, aged 12 or 13. Did I like it than? I don't think so. Nor did I remember much of the plot besides Pirates! and Treasure. I was surprised at just how much of the action took place on the island. Which, I guess makes sense since the book is called Treasure Island.... So its an adventure book, and a well written one at that. However, nothing is surprising, and its a not a deep book. Perfect for a beach read, something to read that isn't very deep.

[belana-990668 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this very much. I had only ever seen the movie, so at some point, I decided I really had to know the book, and the version read by Adrian Praetzellis is awesome.

[eurekas_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite of Robert Louis Stevenson's.

[francoisvigneault · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I finally got around to reading Treasure Island I was so delighted with it and surprised how rip-roaring a tale it is. I read it as an adult and loved it... It's one of those things that is like the fountainhead for so much pop culture since it was published (pirates saying "arrrrr!" for one), there is something shocking about going back to the source. Perhaps the best-ever adventure novel of all time.

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Some parts bored me, some confused me, but none excited me, but not badly written.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This classic adventure story featuring pirates and treasure continues to delight today's readers and listeners. Jasper Britton's narration was so well done I felt I listened to a full-cast narration instead of a single performer. Five audio versions were available to me through my libraries, and I listened to the samples of each, settling on this one, and I'm so glad I did.

[daniel5estes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The writing is luxurious to read, or in my case listen to, even though a 150-year-old swashbuckler about pirates feels slow and meandering by today's standards.

[dmturner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not actually Volume 3 - the title is incorrect. I listened to the Michael Page audio version in the car on my iPhone. A clear reading, well told. I read the abridged version with my students, because the vocabulary and the dialect dialogue are so difficult, but the sequence of events is often clearer in the full version.

[pilgrimjess · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." Walt DisneyTreasure Island is an iconic adventure pirate story, it is the book that almost everyone has had in our childhood and is chock full of all the images of pirates we know today whether it be in literature or cinematography: dreadful Captain Flint, cunning John Silver with his peg leg, talking parrot, rum and the song about the dead man’s chest. All these characters can be seen in today in modern works like “The Pirates of the Caribbean” series. So why has it endured all these years?The simple answer is that it has everything that we look for today in an adventure story: hidden treasure hunted for my goodies and baddies alike, a mutiny on the ship, a marooned ex-pirate and a skeleton used as a road sign and of course a talking parrot. However, perhaps the most important feature is the characterisation of the pirate leader John Silver. On one hand he is likeable, charming and brave yet despite his missing leg he is also calculating, tough and strong and there is also a real element of menace about him that sends shivers down our spines meaning that we feel exactly like Jim felt while he was hiding in the barrel and listening to the pirate talks.The way that the pirates talk is also vital to the story. While the “good” characters speak proper English the pirates use jargon so distinguishing them as the “bad guys”. Such details help modern readers who know nothing about real life pirates can still vividly imagine them pirates as being outside of the norms of civilised society. Equally the narrative is written from the viewpoint of a teenage Jim Hawkins and we see the storyline through his eyes. He is curious, brave and noble, just as we would like to remember ourselves being at that age. Similarly there are no examples of racism or misogyny that might upset modern sensibilities. Overall “Treasure Island” can be rightly regarded as the forerunner of the pirate adventure story and despite being first published in 1883 is still an interesting and entertaining read today whether you are a child or an adult. "Fifteen men on a dead man's chest-Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!"

[larryking1-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So there I was, drifting in Pandemic Land, wondering what to read next, when the soft dulcet voice of Lou Reed drifted into my sullen consciousness: "I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seasOn a great big clipper shipGoing from this land here to thatOn a sailor's suit and cap..." And, then, right after that, this early Dylan lyric came crashing through the Pandemic Mayhem: "Haul on the bowline, we sang that melody...like all tough sailors do, when they're far away at sea!" In a moment, the die was cast. I knew that the next book I would read, or reread rather, would be Treasure Island, one that I read some, what, forty years ago, as a mere child? It was a great idea! What a treat! What pleasure! And the fact that the back cover said, "For children, aged 10-14," discouraged me not a whit! To make matters even better, it so happened that my edition was a facsimile of a 1911 one, illustrated by one NC Wyeth, the father of the very Andrew (Mansplain Alert!), who painted Christina's World (and not to forget the voluptuous Helga). But I digress. This adventure story was an unalloyed delight, a story of intrigue, treachery, courage, and a cast of characters right out of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland! I can say no more save this: English literature is awash (as we pirates say) with secondary characters of the highest order: Holmes' Dr Watson, Dickens Madame Defarge, King Arthur's Merlin, Alice's Cheshire Cat, and so on...so allow me to introduce another one, the charismatic Long John Silver, the humble, affable ship's cook in this gripping yarn...or was he only a cook? Read it to find out!

[zentasy72 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book contains everything you could expect from a story like this. Although this is one of the well-known classics, I had not read it yet. I am very happy that I have done so now.

The story follows Jim Hawkins who lives with his mother in the "Admiral Benbow" inn in a seaside town. When pirate Bill, who is a client at the inn, leaves a treasure map after his death, Jim sets off on an adventure to find the treasure. It is written in short chapters and after each chapter you want to know what Stevenson has in store for Hawkins and co. Because of the interesting story and the short chapters I read this fairly quickly.

If you have not yet become acquainted with this classic, it is highly recommended.

[caseybp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book that gave us our mythical idea of pirates. Such a great story! One of the best novels I have ever read!

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When an old seaman named Billy Bones comes to stay at the Admiral Benbow Inn run by Jim Hawkins and his parents, the young English boy finds himself unexpectedly caught up in an exciting adventure involving pirates and hidden treasure. Enlisted in the local squire's quest to find the treasure buried on the eponymous Treasure Island, Jim becomes a cabin boy on the voyage out, encountering treachery and dangers he did not anticipate...Like many children's classics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Treasure Island was first published serially, in the Young Folks magazine, before being released in book form in 1883. An instant success, it has remained immensely popular ever since, published in innumerable editions, and frequently adapted for stage, film and television. Somehow, despite being well aware of it since childhood, I had never picked it up, until it was assigned as one of our texts in a class I took during the course of my masters. I'm so happy that I finally did get to it, as I found it immensely engrossing and entertaining. Atmospheric, exciting, it immediately grabs hold of the reader, and takes them along on an extraordinary adventure. The themes here are fascinating, and led me to include the book in a paper I wrote on the island as an example of the 'lapsed topos,' as envisioned by Jane Suzanne Carroll, in her Landscape in Children's Literature. Recommended to all readers who enjoy adventure stories, or who love tales of seafaring and pirates.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I just really had trouble getting into this. The characters were so two-dimensional and the "action" went from a lot of talking to a lot of killing and back to a lot of talking. Not my cuppa Joe.

[linyarai · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Like many clasics it was long and rambling, hard to follow the plot at points. It got easier halfway through, but I still had to push myself to finish it.

[joe73-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A classic story. The determination of the characters is well done. If you have not read it....the chances are Earth is a very distant place for you.

[scarylullabies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A re-read of a favorite from my childhood. It held up beautifully and filled me with nostalgia.

[booktsunami · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have always loved the story of Treasure Island by R L Stevenson.And also loved some of his other writings such as "The Pleasures of Travelling slowly". The story is such a classic that it really does not warrant comment so I will focus on the book itself. This is the Folio Society edition and, as always, the Folio Society does a pretty good job of book production. A nice hardback in a lovely book-case. I was mainly attracted to it by the illustrations by N C Wyeth. The publishers state that they were able to access the original paintings and took the plates from them. If this is the case then I am frankly disappointed. All the illustrations seem to have been colour shifted towards brown. Now this may, indeed, be the case with the original paintings but I was able to "Google" an exhibition of the same paintings and see some photographs of the original paintings there. Admittedly, this is a bit unreliable because I can't know how accurate the photos were in reproducing the colours of the originals but suffice to say that they were much brighter ...and I would think...more attractive to a younger audience. And the audience, in this case was boys. I must say that I'm somewhat convinced that the Folio Society might not have gotten their printing of the colour plates quite right because, when I look at the plate facing p 33...which is "Captain Bones routs Black Dog"....there is a small patch of sea in the background. In the bookplate it is virtually black. But the same plate enhanced a bit (lightened) with photo software shows it to be a cobalt blue. Now, I may be wrong but I suspect the the original has this enlivening cobalt blue and somewhere, over the years, this has disappeared. (maybe by the varnishing darkening). The bottom, line is that I am disappointed in the reproduction of the illustrations. They are all of remarkable composition and vigour but let down by the darkness of the tones. I have read the book many times....it was even a text in English for me at High School so I have not re-read the story in this Folio version. (They say, it closely follows the original). A great book, great illustrations by a favourite artist of mine from boyhood but, a bit let-down by the dark tones fo the illustrations. Recommended but not five stars.

[chirikosan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is not bad in any sense of the way. The issue I had when I read it is that I read it when I was already an adult when the audience is clearly young children (ideally 8-12 year olds).

A clean fantasy with pirates and a nice, easygoing narrative, it is an ideal fun story for a parent to read to their children. Give it a shot!

[sarahgracegrzy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not really my cup of tea, but I can understand why it's a classic.

[odinblindeye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

YAAARR. This be a tale of scallywags and high seas. Adventure be at it's finest, and the rum flows like water me lads.

[leslie398 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent adventure story with pirates singing about bottles of rum & a dead man's chest, a one-legged rogue, and a talking parrot - I suspect that this book is responsible for all the pirate stereotypes I grew up with!Frederick Davidson did a good job narrating, but I found his voices for a few of the characters didn't feel quite right to me. The doctor in particular was given a quick way of talking with some pauses in strange places. If not for these minor flaws, I would have given this 5 stars.

[matke-261098 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Come and join us in a wonderful adventure story. Pirates, parrots, treasure maps. One of the most complicated villains in all of Victorian literature. An exotic setting, an exotic time frame. Who could ask for more?At a coastal inn, a mysterious and somewhat evil man takes up residence. Soon he’s pursued my creepy foes. What ensues is the most influential pirate story ever. Stevenson was admittedly aiming at a young male audience, but a reader would need to be unimaginative in the extreme not to get caught up in Jim Hawkins’ adventures on the high seas. Definitely recommended.

[whitreidtan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My book club likes to choose at least one classic every year. This past year we had trouble settling on one that too many people hadn't already read or that were too long for the reading time frame so I suggested Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, a book I hadn't read since I was a child but one that I knew I'd be happy to revisit. After all, who doesn't like swashbuckling?As a classic, the plot is probably familiar to most people but broadly drawn, young Jim Hawkins, son of an innkeeper, finds a map to Treasure Island in the late Billy Bones' belongings and sets out with a couple of old men eager to add to their wealth and a scurvy crew of mostly shifty sailors for the promised treasure. Along the way there is plotting, betrayal, and mutiny from the sailors, treasure unearthed, a battle fought, a maroon found, and ultimately the triumph of goodness, luck, and bravery. This novel is in fact the original pirate tale, the one that has influenced so much of the pop culture portrayals of pirates to this day. It is a portrait of Britain in the Victorian age and of the romanticism of the high seas; it is pure adventure. The language in it is decidedly more difficult than what is presented to children today but the story, after a bit of a slow start, is still completely entertaining and engrossing. Young Jim is lucky, often in the right place at the right time, and he has invaluable instincts. Long John Silver seems charming and kindly but who hides his real, greedy and evil nature as long as possible. I first read this at our cottage by flickering gaslight and that was perfect for the atmosphere evoked here. If you don't have such a place to sink into this book, I suspect it would make a fantastic read aloud bedtime story. Be warned though, that the audience for the story will beg you not to stop at this chapter or that, wanting the whole adventure in one go. And good luck not getting "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum" or "sixteen men on a dead man's chest" stuck in your head after you read it!

[hopeevey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an awesome novel! It manages to be a great adventure story, and a great Victorian period piece, without feeling dated or forced. Yes, the hero has things go unnaturally well for him, but it makes perfect sense in the story. It's a great read, and a great young adult read. The abridged versions, really, should be shot for the lame imposters they are.

And, on top of being a great story, this is where the whole pirate genre started, everything from buried treasure tropes, to the rules of "gentlemen of fortune." Every pirate aficionado should give this a gander.

[rajivc_18 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book when I was a kid and, read it again. This time around, I read it in almost one sittingHe could indeed spin a tale, and managed to create marvellous atmosphere. In the search for the hidden treasure, he also created some memorable characters. All of them. This is a brilliant book, and one for all ages.

[soylentgreen23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The term 'classic' doesn't tell you much. I read 'The Prisoner of Zenda' a while back, and it too was termed a classic though I cannot say honestly that the quality was all there. So is 'Treasure Island' a certifiable classic, in that case?I can happily answer in the affirmative. 'Treasure Island' not only has a plot that moves swiftly and logically from development to development, but is also stocked full of a cast of characters that will long remain in your mind and heart. From brave Jim Hawkins, our hero and narrator, to the enigmatic and dangerous Long John Silver, there are enough well-drawn characters here to populate a whole series of books. Their adventures prove intoxicating, and it is with sadness rather than relief that the last page in their tale is turned.

[eglinton_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stevenson’s taut and fast-paced adventure still entertains. From this stirring tale originates much of the language and icons of pirates we know so well: old sea-dogs, grog, pieces of eight, parrots, sea chests. Young Jim Hawkins, a mere lad, is both repelled and invigorated by the rugged old seamen of fortune, bent on treasure or vengeance, and their blundering misadventures in the Caribbean. Should the narrative briefly slacken, Jim takes on some reckless or daring initiative to move it on. Long John Silver, the arch villain, is also somehow the star of the show, bristling with charisma and cunning. Characters and motives sometimes blur, but the story’s energy and spirit prevail. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

[helenliz_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of those books I can't believe I've never read - but this is my first encounter with Treasure Island. Narrated by Jim Hawkins, it follows the adventures of a young boy as he encounters a former Pirate, then gets involved in a chase for hidden treasure and battle with mutinous pirates. It's exciting, but has some serious consideration as well. Well worth reading.