What do you think?
Rate this book
Treasure Island/Kidnapped
Before Captain Jack Sparro and The Pirates of the Caribbean, there were Treasure Island and Kidnapped. Two novels of derring-do and adventure among pirates on the high seas. Thrill with our young heroes as they swashbuckle through one adventure after another. Collected here together are the two books that all other pirate adventures are measured against.
398 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2010
14 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson
6,861 books6,952 followersRobert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of English literature. He was greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling and Vladimir Nabokov.
Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.
Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 2, 2020
The reviews on here surprise me as most if not all only refer to Treasure Island, and not Kidnapped. Either people have not read the second story, or maybe they've only got a copy of Treasure Island, and mistakenly selected this version on Goodreads. I'm not sure.
This book contains both stories in their complete form. It is a hardcover, beautifully illustrated, and as with all compendiums, quite big. I've had it for so long the pages have turned that sort of tanned colour you get with old books, which only makes it feel even more like a book of pirate stories when you crack it open.
Treasure Island
I have already reviewed this elsewhere as an individual book, but as I want to give both stories equal time, I'm inserting that review here:
Now what self-respecting landlocked "thief upon wave" living vicariously through pirate stories could fault a classic? Because Treasure Island is a classic. It's got everything you'd expect to find in a good pirate yarn: a sea adventure in search of mysterious buried treasure, mutiny, scheming pirates, and plenty of nautical lingo.
Long John Silver makes the story. He's that dastardly but also charming cad with one leg who is greedy and scheming but also has a bit of a soft spot for young Jim Hawkins, and so just can't help but want to protect him at times.
There's really nothing I can fault the story on, and nothing I feel I can analyse any further here which hasn't already been said. So I'm just gonna end with something which is perhaps an unspoken taboo for Goodreads (I dont know). But in the spirit of all good sea rogues, I'm gonna do it anyway. So here's a plug for my favourite pirate show that was inspired by Treasure Island: Black Sails.
Seriously, if you love pirates and pirate stories as I do, and you haven't watched Black Sails, go watch it now. It serves as a sort of prequel to Treasure Island, following the adventures of a younger Captain Flint, but with the addition of all our favourite real-life pirates: Anne Bonny, Calico Jack Rackham, Charles Vane, and of course Blackbeard!
It's gritty, realistic, and so so good! And in my opinion, has one of the best intro songs in tv show history.
And see, that's what I love about classics like Treasure Island. They inspire so many adaptations, prequels, sequels, parodies, homages, etc. that a pirate-lover like me will never be short of reading (or viewing) material. ☠🖤
Overall 5/5
Kidnapped
This story took me a lot longer to get through than Treasure Island did, which is one reason it gets a lower rating. Books should not be a struggle to read and enjoy!
The story follows David Balfour, a young man whose father has passed away, leaving him with a letter of introduction to his Uncle, Ebenezer Balfour of the House of Shaws. From there, things go south for young David, who very soon discovers his uncle is not a man to be trusted.
That old geezer Uncle Ebenezer is a real miser, and a scoundrel, but he's a bit lukewarm as a villain, partly because we don't see much of him apart from at the beginning and end of the story. Partly because he doesn't do much of his dastardly deeds himself, and when he does try he both fails miserably and faints epicly. And also because he has a weird sense of morality: not willing to go as far as outright order the killing of his nephew, but somehow willing to have him press-ganged and sold into slavery, or allow him to have an "accidental" death in the dark.
One thing I did like and will always praise in a book that does it properly, is the realistic portrayal of life at sea. Let's face it, life on a ship was not all sunshine and roses - captains or mates could be cruel, seamen were sleep deprived due to their watch patterns, and sailors were not romantic heroes.
I found a lot of the dialogue difficult to understand due to the dialect used. Stevenson wrote it in a Scottish accent, and although I understood some words, a lot of the sentences were lost on me.
As a main character, David Balfour is not as compelling as young Jim Hawkins, and neither is his adventure as interesting.
Overall a 3/5. Probably would not re-read this one.
This book contains both stories in their complete form. It is a hardcover, beautifully illustrated, and as with all compendiums, quite big. I've had it for so long the pages have turned that sort of tanned colour you get with old books, which only makes it feel even more like a book of pirate stories when you crack it open.
Treasure Island
I have already reviewed this elsewhere as an individual book, but as I want to give both stories equal time, I'm inserting that review here:
Now what self-respecting landlocked "thief upon wave" living vicariously through pirate stories could fault a classic? Because Treasure Island is a classic. It's got everything you'd expect to find in a good pirate yarn: a sea adventure in search of mysterious buried treasure, mutiny, scheming pirates, and plenty of nautical lingo.
Long John Silver makes the story. He's that dastardly but also charming cad with one leg who is greedy and scheming but also has a bit of a soft spot for young Jim Hawkins, and so just can't help but want to protect him at times.
There's really nothing I can fault the story on, and nothing I feel I can analyse any further here which hasn't already been said. So I'm just gonna end with something which is perhaps an unspoken taboo for Goodreads (I dont know). But in the spirit of all good sea rogues, I'm gonna do it anyway. So here's a plug for my favourite pirate show that was inspired by Treasure Island: Black Sails.
Seriously, if you love pirates and pirate stories as I do, and you haven't watched Black Sails, go watch it now. It serves as a sort of prequel to Treasure Island, following the adventures of a younger Captain Flint, but with the addition of all our favourite real-life pirates: Anne Bonny, Calico Jack Rackham, Charles Vane, and of course Blackbeard!
It's gritty, realistic, and so so good! And in my opinion, has one of the best intro songs in tv show history.
And see, that's what I love about classics like Treasure Island. They inspire so many adaptations, prequels, sequels, parodies, homages, etc. that a pirate-lover like me will never be short of reading (or viewing) material. ☠🖤
Overall 5/5
Kidnapped
This story took me a lot longer to get through than Treasure Island did, which is one reason it gets a lower rating. Books should not be a struggle to read and enjoy!
The story follows David Balfour, a young man whose father has passed away, leaving him with a letter of introduction to his Uncle, Ebenezer Balfour of the House of Shaws. From there, things go south for young David, who very soon discovers his uncle is not a man to be trusted.
That old geezer Uncle Ebenezer is a real miser, and a scoundrel, but he's a bit lukewarm as a villain, partly because we don't see much of him apart from at the beginning and end of the story. Partly because he doesn't do much of his dastardly deeds himself, and when he does try he both fails miserably and faints epicly. And also because he has a weird sense of morality: not willing to go as far as outright order the killing of his nephew, but somehow willing to have him press-ganged and sold into slavery, or allow him to have an "accidental" death in the dark.
One thing I did like and will always praise in a book that does it properly, is the realistic portrayal of life at sea. Let's face it, life on a ship was not all sunshine and roses - captains or mates could be cruel, seamen were sleep deprived due to their watch patterns, and sailors were not romantic heroes.
I found a lot of the dialogue difficult to understand due to the dialect used. Stevenson wrote it in a Scottish accent, and although I understood some words, a lot of the sentences were lost on me.
As a main character, David Balfour is not as compelling as young Jim Hawkins, and neither is his adventure as interesting.
Overall a 3/5. Probably would not re-read this one.
December 29, 2025
Read both of these aloud to my wife at bedtime. Treasure Island is the more thrilling adventure of the two, but if you're into Scotland, particularly the Scottish Highlands, then Kidnapped is a must read.
shelved
April 18, 2025Gift to Grandad Xmas ‘42
October 20, 2023
ein weltklasse klassiker, den jeder einmal lesen sollte
June 19, 2013
One day, a captain shows up at the "Admiral Benbow" inn, and he makes his home there. He is a private man, and a fierce one. Upon his death, the young Jim Hawkins finds himself in possession of a treasure map. Then he is off, sailing across the ocean for the island. However, things take a dangerous turn when Jim overhears a nefarious plot, and finds himself in danger from pirates. Trapped on an island, will he and his friends survive? And who will end up with the buried treasure?
I loved this book. I haven't read a ton of pirate stories, but I think this is one of the best. This book is what we view pirates as, and there have been many retellings of this. I loved finally reading the actual story, and it did not disappoint.
There was an air of mystery, and an air of adventure. There never was a moment I was bored. I think part of my fascination comes from Treasure Planet being one of my favorite movies, so it was great to see the actual story, and some of the differences in the two surprised me.
I do feel as if Jim was a little... boring? Not sure if that's the right word. There were times I felt as if I was directly observing everything. Jim didn't seem to be doing much, and so he disappeared, even though the story was being told through his point of view.
However, that was the only complaint I have about this book. Other than that, it was just a lot of fun, and I felt as if it couldn't have ended any better than it did.
I'm not reviewing Kidnapped because I don't have time to read it, at the moment. I will come back to it.
I loved this book. I haven't read a ton of pirate stories, but I think this is one of the best. This book is what we view pirates as, and there have been many retellings of this. I loved finally reading the actual story, and it did not disappoint.
There was an air of mystery, and an air of adventure. There never was a moment I was bored. I think part of my fascination comes from Treasure Planet being one of my favorite movies, so it was great to see the actual story, and some of the differences in the two surprised me.
I do feel as if Jim was a little... boring? Not sure if that's the right word. There were times I felt as if I was directly observing everything. Jim didn't seem to be doing much, and so he disappeared, even though the story was being told through his point of view.
However, that was the only complaint I have about this book. Other than that, it was just a lot of fun, and I felt as if it couldn't have ended any better than it did.
I'm not reviewing Kidnapped because I don't have time to read it, at the moment. I will come back to it.
April 14, 2019
Treasure Island:
What a contrast from Robinson Crusoe! I don’t know why the two are mentioned together so often. I couldn’t bear to read that one, but this had me hooked from the very beginning. The old seaman, Billy Bones, whose appearance sets off the whole story, is terrifying. From there, the action is nonstop.
I think I read a kid’s version in elementary school, probably Illustrated Classics. If I even finished it, it made no impression.
Somehow I made it to my late 30’s without knowing the story, so I was in suspense the whole time. So, I’ll say no more than read it if you haven’t.
What a contrast from Robinson Crusoe! I don’t know why the two are mentioned together so often. I couldn’t bear to read that one, but this had me hooked from the very beginning. The old seaman, Billy Bones, whose appearance sets off the whole story, is terrifying. From there, the action is nonstop.
I think I read a kid’s version in elementary school, probably Illustrated Classics. If I even finished it, it made no impression.
Somehow I made it to my late 30’s without knowing the story, so I was in suspense the whole time. So, I’ll say no more than read it if you haven’t.
February 17, 2024
Classic story of pirates hunting for buried treasure on a deserted island. Takes place in the mid 1700s. The language is hard to understand sometimes, but the basic storyline is great, and includes the usual suspects: Long John Silver; the parrot squawking incessantly, "Pieces of eight!"; drunken sailors . . .
August 10, 2013
Thought Treasure Island to be the better of the two tales, but also the more simple and straightforward. Neither measure up to The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, but both were enjoyable in their own right.
September 25, 2017
I only read Treasure Island and I don't have any plans to read Kidnapped.
I liked it, but I found the slang and dialect quite confusing and hard to understand, and I don't know how much of my enjoyment came from my feelings of nostalgia based on the movie Treasure Planet.
I liked it, but I found the slang and dialect quite confusing and hard to understand, and I don't know how much of my enjoyment came from my feelings of nostalgia based on the movie Treasure Planet.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews