Treasure Island (Review)
Treasure Island (Review)
y opening shot from the fo’c’sle: this is a great book!
I’ve read it years back and loved it. Watched the pretty-close 1990’s version and loved that too. And now, after watching the show Black Sails (which serves as a prequel , but I’ve my own issues with it), I pulled this one out of the public library and had another go on it.
Did I already tell you to get it and read it?
So the story opens with young Jim Hawkins (who works in his parent’s inn) taking on a new boarder, an old salt of the sea who roars for rum, is scared of a one-legged man and who watches the sea from the nearby cliffs with a brass telescope. And who has a locked chest up in his room. And eventually there are pirates about, and eventually the chest is opened, a map is discovered, and young Jim (now under the protection of the local squire and doctor) is involved in an expedition to sail to Treasure Island and recover the gold that the most dangerous pirate in the world, Captain Flint, amassed from years of raiding around the globe, murdering and rampaging.
No, it really doesn’t sound like that guy from Black Sails.
Anyway, the cook on the Hispaniola is a one-legged man who helps recruit the crew and if you don’t see where this leads, you’ve got your tricornered hat too low.
So there are battles and bombardments, mystery and exploration, and even a frightening chase up the rat lines. Treasure Island has it all! And all through it, John Silver shows what a chameleon he is, playing both sides, covering his bets, and walking the thinnest of lines (with one leg!). Long John is an amazingly deep character, one whom you’ll enjoy following.
So yes, a classic in every sense of the name. Your library’s got to have a copy – order it up today and get ready for the ride of your life!