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Treasure Island
Book by Stevenson, Robert Louis
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 8, 2022
I admire Robert Louis Stevenson and his 'Treasure Island' is, arguably, one of the best adventure stories ever written. And Joyce Faraday in this re-telling of the classic tale does it full justice with a succinct but fulsome version of the original. She does an excellent job in condensing the novel into 52 pages, outlining all the characters involved and missing none of the action.
It is the same classic tale; Jim Hawkins finds a map of buried treasure on someone who stayed at his mother's inn and was killed. He takes it to the gentlemen of the village who arrange a ship to go and find the buried treasure that is marked on the map.
They employ a ship's cook by name Long John Silver, who changes sides three or four times throughout the telling of the story. One minute he is a baddie then he turns to the side of the goodies and then back again before pretending to be with the goodies as they return home.
When Treasure Island is discovered the adventures are fast and furious, the stockade is attacked by the pirates, Ben Gunn appears from the jungle, Jim Hawkins saves the day and the ship, the treasure has already been rescued by Ben Gunn, the pirates are eventually either killed or left, with some supplies, to fend for themselves on the island as Hawkins and his party sail home to reap the benefits. Meanwhile Long John Silver, and his parrot, slope off with 'Pieces of Eight'!
A great read and always worth re-reading in any version, particularly the original. And in this version Dennis Manton provides sympathetic illustrations.
It is the same classic tale; Jim Hawkins finds a map of buried treasure on someone who stayed at his mother's inn and was killed. He takes it to the gentlemen of the village who arrange a ship to go and find the buried treasure that is marked on the map.
They employ a ship's cook by name Long John Silver, who changes sides three or four times throughout the telling of the story. One minute he is a baddie then he turns to the side of the goodies and then back again before pretending to be with the goodies as they return home.
When Treasure Island is discovered the adventures are fast and furious, the stockade is attacked by the pirates, Ben Gunn appears from the jungle, Jim Hawkins saves the day and the ship, the treasure has already been rescued by Ben Gunn, the pirates are eventually either killed or left, with some supplies, to fend for themselves on the island as Hawkins and his party sail home to reap the benefits. Meanwhile Long John Silver, and his parrot, slope off with 'Pieces of Eight'!
A great read and always worth re-reading in any version, particularly the original. And in this version Dennis Manton provides sympathetic illustrations.
April 8, 2022
Joyce Faraday masterfully recreates the characters of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic 'Treasure Island' from honest young Jim Hawkins through piratical Long John Silver, to sinister, two-timing Israel Hands, and the evil incarnate, blind Pew. And in so doing she captures all the magic and excitement that RLS set out to portray for his readers. And Sean Hayden produces magical illustrations to match, particularly his portrayal of Silver's parrot (see cover for starters).
Setting sail on the Hispaniola, Jim Hawkins and company arrive at Treasure Island and then the excitement, that has been building on the voyage, intensifies and becomes a fight between good and evil in the form of Squire Trelawney's men and Silver's pirates.
Unbeknown to anyone, Ben Gunn holds the key to where the treasure lies and once he meets up with young Jim and sides with Trelawney's men, the writing is on the wall for the pirates. Silver manages to wheedle his way into Trelawney's camp for the return voyage but he disappears before they all arrive safely home in England - complete with the treasure.
As the literary historian David Daiches once wrote: 'Robert Louis Stevenson transformed the Victorian boys' adventure into a classic of its kind.' And Joyce Faraday does not disappoint in her rendition of the tale.
This edition is a Marks and Spencer edition, seemingly in conjunction with Ladybird Books, that has beautifully decorated end papers and a special decorated ownership page.
Setting sail on the Hispaniola, Jim Hawkins and company arrive at Treasure Island and then the excitement, that has been building on the voyage, intensifies and becomes a fight between good and evil in the form of Squire Trelawney's men and Silver's pirates.
Unbeknown to anyone, Ben Gunn holds the key to where the treasure lies and once he meets up with young Jim and sides with Trelawney's men, the writing is on the wall for the pirates. Silver manages to wheedle his way into Trelawney's camp for the return voyage but he disappears before they all arrive safely home in England - complete with the treasure.
As the literary historian David Daiches once wrote: 'Robert Louis Stevenson transformed the Victorian boys' adventure into a classic of its kind.' And Joyce Faraday does not disappoint in her rendition of the tale.
This edition is a Marks and Spencer edition, seemingly in conjunction with Ladybird Books, that has beautifully decorated end papers and a special decorated ownership page.
June 23, 2020
Perhaps I’m a special case because I like the story of Treasure Island but not the way Stevenson told it. This retelling was pretty good and worth picking up for sure. A Ladybird book!
October 24, 2024
If there is one book that I can read again and again and still enjoy just as much each time, it is Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Treasure Island'. Whether this is because I have had a long history with it, having bought a two shillings and sixpenny edition from FW Woolworth with my spending money as a young boy or whether itis my later admiration for RLS having read such things as his letters and one or two biographies, or even, heaven forbid, that my first published writing was an assessment of the man, I am not sure ... but there it is.
And I admire any author who can take a classic and retell it in a meaningful way without losing the main themes of the book, and this is something that Joyce Faraday has certainly done beginning with the moment Billy Bones appeared in The Admiral Benbow right through all the excitements to the departure of the Hispaniola from the island for the return to England.
Long John Silver, Ben Gunn, Dr Livesey and his party, as well as the nasty pirates, all shine through in one way or another as does young Jim Hawkins, who, of course, is telling the tale. Yes, like those of you who have read the book, I do know the story but I never tire of reading about it ... and I am afraid I can make no apologies for that! I do have a variety of editions of the novel so I cannot guarantee that it will not turn up again in a different guise with different illustrations, all of which are usually well matched to the story.
And I admire any author who can take a classic and retell it in a meaningful way without losing the main themes of the book, and this is something that Joyce Faraday has certainly done beginning with the moment Billy Bones appeared in The Admiral Benbow right through all the excitements to the departure of the Hispaniola from the island for the return to England.
Long John Silver, Ben Gunn, Dr Livesey and his party, as well as the nasty pirates, all shine through in one way or another as does young Jim Hawkins, who, of course, is telling the tale. Yes, like those of you who have read the book, I do know the story but I never tire of reading about it ... and I am afraid I can make no apologies for that! I do have a variety of editions of the novel so I cannot guarantee that it will not turn up again in a different guise with different illustrations, all of which are usually well matched to the story.
May 25, 2023
This summary was terribly written and hard to follow. I could see myself reading the full version. Maybe.
January 2, 2014
This copy was given to me as part of the 2nd prize for Academic Achievement at our school's Annual Prize Distribution in 1999 or when I was in 5th grade. I guess it is for sentimental reasons that I have still not given it away.
June 2, 2014
not bad for the extremely condensed version of it, with all the paperback books I have I simply can't find the time to read them all with my busy schedule, between work, chores and carting the kids everywhere
March 3, 2009
Aaaargggh...keep a weather eye out for this book, I reckon. Essential reading while adventuring in the Caribbean. I'll give my affy-davvy, and you may lay to it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews