Classics Without All the Class discussion

Feel free to discuss these chapters as you read. Full spoilers for these three chapters, but if you end up spoiling future chapters preface your post with *spoilers*.

I just re-read chapters 20 and 21 online at The Literature Project. Chapter 20 is the discussion between Captain Smollett and the now Captain Silver under the flag of truce - probably one of my favorite chapters. I loved the dark humor in the exchange and I love that Captain Smollett stood on principle and sent Silver packing - without so much as giving him a hand up. Silver and Smollett were a well matched pair of adversaries - both cool and level-headed under pressure; Captain Smollett with his wonderful command of the king's English and Captain Silver with his equally wonderful command of pirate lingo. Giving Smollett his "affy-davys."

Chapter 21 is the blood bath - the attack on the fort in which the pirates lose 5 mutineers and the good guys lose Hunter. A whole different tone than the previous chapter. The writing is such that I was so drawn in as to mourn the loss of each man - mutineer and good guy alike.

I would definitely recommend the audio version to anyone having trouble getting through the unfamiliar text - it is worlds easier to listen to than to read.

I also enjoyed the interaction between Silver and Smollett. I never thought I would get into this story but then again I had never read Robert Louis Stevenson before. He really succeeded at bringing these characters alive for the reader through their dialog. I could sense Smollett's dignity and strength as well as Silver's clever deception and manipulative tactics.

I should try the audio. And the movie!

Yes - a movie would be fun too!