Treasure Island: with Connections

by Robert Louis Stevenson

While going through the possessions of a deceased guest who owed them money, the mistress of the inn and her son find a treasure map that leads them to a pirate's fortune.

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 1998

About the author

Robert 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.

Reviews

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one along with my daughter's Language Arts class. I'm sure at the time.ot was written it was a great story as a serial for kids. As an adult reading it in 2025, it was just okay. My biggest negative was that it was written in a pirate's accent. Again, probably exciting in the late 1800's, but I'm not fluent enough in pirate, so for me it detracted from the story.

[Kayla Beardall]

It was very adventurous! Very good read.

[Rita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to write for this review. I just finished the book, and my reaction is…nothing. In 195 pages, Robert Louis Stevenson has managed to put in thousands of words that make…nothing. Frankly, there was no real plot. Well, there was, but it's the kind of boring story you think up in ten seconds and never write about. Apparently, Stevenson thought his boring, ten-second story worth writing about. I'll just save you the trouble of reading the book and tell you what happens:

Jim Hawkins, a son of an innkeeper, gets hold of a treasure map of a famous pirate, and he and a few others decide to go look for the treasure. He had been warned that a one-legged man had been part of the pirate's crew, but of course he doesn't think it slightly odd when the ship's cook is a one-legged man. With a parrot named after the famous pirate. -_- Anyways, most of the crew turn out to be mutineers. There were only about five loyal men or whatever, but somehow they manage to kill most of the mutineers. -_- And then Jim takes the ship from the mutineers. And he's a teenager. ˚_˚ (How is that possible???) Well, they get the treasure from a maroon. And somehow, the loyal guys forgive the one-legged cook guy and let him come on-board and roam around without supervision. (Stupid idea.) So, the bad guy takes some of the treasures and runs away, and everyone's fine with it. ˚_˚ (What is wrong with you people???) And then the surviving guys get their share of the treasure, and it's all happily-ever-after-blah-blah-blah.

Well, this was one of the most boring books that I've ever read. Only recommended for four or five year-olds who are fond of an adventure story (though you might do better with a simplified version; some of the language is slightly difficult.)