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Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Audiobook6 hours

Treasure Island

Written by Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrated by Neil Hunt

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

If you happen to find a map in a dead buccaneer's sea trunk, you can't very well ignore it, not if you are Jim Hawkins and his friends Dr. Livesey, Captain Smollett and Squire Trelawney! But even with a map, buried treasures are not easy things to come by. At the start of his grand adventure, setting sail on the good ship Hispaniola, the young Hawkins is a hesitant, querulous boy, too easily beguiled by his own fancy. By journey's end he will have faced murder, mutiny, and mayhem-and in the process, become a man. Narrator Neil Hunt brings to life the characters Robert Louis Stevenson made so memorable: Black Dog, Blind Pew, Billy Bones, George Merry, Israel Hands, and Ben Gunn.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 24, 2009
ISBN9781436142250
Author

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson was an atheist and free spirit. In Samoa – where he died – he fought in a civil war for independence. In 1886, the blockbuster novel Kidnapped was published – a dramatic adventure of abduction and life on the run in the wilds of Scotland. Stevenson died in 1894, just 44 years old. The Samoan natives, who were devoted to Stevenson, cut a track through the jungle to create a resting place for him on top of the mountain above his beloved Vailima estate.

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Reviews for Treasure Island

Rating: 4.066115702479339 out of 5 stars
4/5

121 ratings99 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Treasure Island stands out as a classic of young adventure fiction for good reason. Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale has survived the test of time because it is fast paced enough for the modern reader, packed with action and heroism that the young readily take to, and populated mostly with characters who leave little doubt about whose side they’re on. I say mostly, because one exception added a new element to this type of adventure fiction in the 1880’s—moral ambiguity. But more about that below.I recently revisited Stevenson’s young hero, Jim Hawkins, because his tale is one of the most read of all time. And it has gone on to become a story to be savored beyond the printed word. Without including the scads of TV serializations in many languages, at least seventeen movie versions of the story have been filmed since the first one in 1912.In case you’ve forgotten Jim, or were never aware of him in the first place, he is a 14 year-old who is helping his struggling parents run a quiet country inn when events overtake him. The inn is chosen as a hideaway by a frightening sailor with a dark secret. The sailor, Billy Bones, stays on long after his money runs out because Jim’s parents are too intimidated to send the man packing. Eventually, several rogues Bones has double crossed catch up to him. In the turmoil that follows, Jim’s father dies, his mother loses the inn, and Jim comes away with a treasure map.It’s here that the real adventure starts when the second most famous character from the book, Long John Silver, joins the crew that sets out on the voyage to recover the treasure. Silver is the model for all the later fiction pirates with parrots on their shoulders and peg-legs. The plotting begins soon after the ship hoists anchor, but the actual skullduggery doesn’t begin in earnest until arrival at the destination, the tropical Caribbean island marked on Jim’s map. There the two sides become clear. They become even clearer at the actual site of the X marked on the map.Jim sees what needs to be done to save his friends and confronts the various pirate mutineers several times. Because Jim’s companions are unaware that he is responding to the threats he uncovers, they come to question his reliability and loyalty. However, it is Jim’s brave actions that more than once allow his friends to stay half a step ahead of the pirates.Jim proves himself when he is captured by the pirates and puts his word and honor above his own safety. His actions eventually redeem him in the eyes of his friends and set him free, but only after he learns everything is not always black and white in the adult world. This is where the moral ambiguity comes in because Jim accepts help from the dubious character alluded to in the opening paragraph. I am speaking of Long John Silver, of course.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Treasure IslandTreasure Island is a great book and like many great books, grew out of a small act. Stevenson's step-son was drawing one day and his step-father looking over his shoulder, saw that he was drawing a map. They spent the day naming the places and colouring it. And from the map came the book.It is a simple story told by a boy on the cusp of manhood and therein lies its power. Jim Hawkins is a boy telling a story to other boys and his nature is reflected in the telling. There is no navel gazing or reflection in him, he doesn't agonize over killing or worry about the morality of taking buried treasure. Unlike his contemporaries in Victorian fiction, whose scruples often verge on the priggish, Jim's moral compass is personal, his loyalty to his mother and to his friends. His is a conscience rooted in the eighteenth century, his goals are clear and their simplicity and single mindedness drive the story forward.But even in this celebration of the 18th century love affair withlaissez faire capitalism, Stephenson finds a place for evil. It is a grinning, grubby, chatty evil, far removed from the starkly painted moral monsters of children's fiction. Long John Silver is a murderer, a pirate and a scoundrel, but he is also charming, capable and a leader of men. Jim enjoys his company despite himself. Though Jim hates Silver for his cruelty, he admires him for his daring as all boys admire those who defy parental or scholastic authority with panache. In some ways there is little to choose between Long John andJim, both pursue the treasure, Long John is simply willing to use brutal means to obtain it.The Jim we meet at the beginning of the novel is a boy, bound to his mother and weighed down by childish things. By the end, he has encountered dangers, both moral and physical, and survived. He has mastered new skills and entered man's estate. For the rest of us, reading Treasure Island could be considered a vital part of that passage.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I read this aloud to my son twenty years ago--and could remember none if it! I did enjoy this re-read: it is apparent why young boys would thrill to the possibilities. In actuality, it has a more probable story line than many YA books for boys written today. In that sense, timeless.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this story the first time around. I "bought" it again once I got my kindle and thoroughly enjoyed reading it for a second time. The tale is one of a young man on a quest for gold, surrounded by pirates and danger. Some of the terminology may be difficult for kids, but the overall story is fantastic even if a few comments or descriptions are lost on them.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Everyone's heard of this book. Surprising how much I thought I knew about it without actually having read it. The reality was quite different - more sinister for a start. Not just a load of jolly pirates with peg-legs and parrots stapled to their shoulders. Quite a lot of violence. Kids should love it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of my favorite books of all time. This is the standard in adventure novels and for good reason. Every young boy and girl should read this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is not the classic I was expecting. I can see the roots of adventure stories, all the original establishment of what have become pirate cliches, but I just wasn't grabbed for most of the story and I'm not sure why that is. Some of Jim Hawkin's actions were too reckless for me to believe and I never grew close to his character, but then I lack the 19th century sense of British forthrightness that might have made me think his decisions more rational. Long John Silver I did like and appreciate throughout, and I was disappointed that his story's ending lacked any sort of power; you can see how this has been corrected in any movie rendition. Among RLS' works, his Jekyl and Hyde remains my favourite.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Rereading Treasure Island for the first time since adolescence, I was struck by how tightly plotted the story is, and also how much of the story I had missed as a young reader. Stevenson writes with what is surely deadpan humor - for example, an over-the-top passage where the Squire begs forgiveness from his mortally-wounded gamekeeper for having dragged him on a wild-goose chase for buried treasure, only to have the servant (1) reply that it wouldn't be proper for him to forgive his master, (2) forgive him, and (3) promptly die. When the young protagonist kills a pirate in self-defense, Stevenson wastes no time on the notion that a good character must throw up or feel paralyzed by the knowledge they have taken a life; instead he describes, coolly, the way the pirate sinks to the bottom of the crystal clear bay. The story moves at a steady clip, is totally unsentimental, and lets the protagonist drive all the main action of the story through his choices, wise and otherwise. This book has aged well.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    this book is awsome its about a boy named jim his dad dies at the resterant his mom and dad own and affter hes gone a while in the book some pirates come and kidnap jim well thats all i can say but this is an awsome book about adventure
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It's slow starting, but once I got to about the middle of the book, I couldn't put it down. It's pretty much a straight-up adventure novel, with action and pirates and everything you could ever want, really.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    It was exciting story and sometimes thrilled me. A boy, Jim goes to find the tresure whichi is on the map he has got accidentaly with pirates. He risks his life but finally he successes to get the tresure. He says he never want to go again but he will never forget the adventure he had.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It is tempting initially to regard this as cliched, until you remember that this is the original pirate novel from which the cliches originated. Good, rollicking stuff, though I thought it got just a little flat in the middle and the first section on dry land in and around the inn was my favorite in terms of the atmosphere it created.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is one of those books I have always wanted to read. I am glad that I did, it was quite enjoyable and I see why it is classed as a Classic novel, and has been reprinted so many times. The characters where quite interesting and enjoyed the flow the book. My only issue was when the narrator switched to the Doctor. Overall a good book and a recommendation for all ages.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I came to this book early in my career as a reader and value it along with so much of Stevenson's work. A wonderful adventure story, this book is truly a classic for readers of all ages.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5

    Five out of ten.

    Stevenson's novel is narrated by the teenage Jim Hawkins, who outwits a gang of murderous pirates led by that unforgettable avatar of amorality, Long John Silver.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Read it along with Cassidy this summer. Never read it before. Enjoyed it very much.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Title: Treasure IslandAuthor: Robert Louis StevensonRelease Date: February 25, 2006 [EBook #120][Last Updated: November 10, 2010]Language: EnglishCharacter set encoding: ASCIIPROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TREASURE ISLAND Produced by Judy Boss, John Hamm and David Widger
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    What a fun book. I had know idea this is the story that Long John Silver came from. This is why I need to go back an do the Classics and now I'm in the right frame of mind and ready for the new Pirates Carribean movie.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I thought this book was pretty neat. I read a super old edition my dad had when he was in school. It totally made me want to watch Muppet treasure island, one of my favorite movies growing up. After reading the book i am better able to appreciate some of the humor in the movie, like "you killed dead tom" and the talking crab that is supposed to be the parrot captain flint.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a fun adventure book, and introduced all our pirate stereotypes. For adults, its a good lighthearted jaunt, for younger reader it would be very exciting. Hidden treasure, pirates, the sea..what's not to like?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The classic tale of pirates and English gentleman, and a boy. Going back and reading this as an adult, I can't believe how predictable it was. I honestly couldn't remember all of the plot points from reading it as a child, but you could see most of the events coming a mile away none the less. This is one of those classic pieces of British work that wraps up all too neatly, and all of the pieces fall right into place without too much fuss. The words are well chosen, and the novel well written, but I'm sad to say that for me it doesn't stand the test of time.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Classic boys adventure story, probably not the first, written in 1893, but one of the best. Women are scarcely mentioned. The imfamous Long John Silver's wife gets a passing line. Protagonist Jim Hawkin's mother features briefly in the opening chapters, refusing to take more than her due, and then fainting under a bridge. The story must surely be known to everyone - and who has not dreamed of finding themselves in such a situatio - Jim Hawkins discovers in the chest of a dead pirate, a map marked with three Xs where the treasure of old Captain Flint has been buried. The local squire and doctor - and it is for such insights into 1890s life that this tale has most appeal for older readers - fit out a ship and go to claim the bounty. Amoungst the crew is peg legged Lohn John Silver, cook, and it transpires, ex-quatermaster of old Flint himself. The crew mutineys at sight of the island, and only through the foolhardy, but ultimately lucky 11yr old Jim Hawkins's actions is the day finally saved. In many ways an improbable story, but allowing for the ability of 11yr olds to achieve any task, it is a well crafted tale, and certainly an enjoyable read although the ending is never in any doubt. The World's Classics edition I have provides commentary on the differences between the first seralised version and the later book form, as well as insights into the genuine history surrounding many of the names. Much of the colloquial lingo remains obscure terms such as "duff" never being explained. This does not detract from the delight - one for all children, including those who have never grown up.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Stevenson is an all-time classic author, and this book is rightfully held in the front rank of the Stevenson canon. It is often cited as a classic of young adult literature, and it clearly works as such, superbly so. But I would like to cite Mr. Stevenson's sophisticated and subtle portayal of his characters. The motivations are shaded, knowing, understandable, and realistic. We have the evolving, by turns treacherous and ingratiating, journey of Long John Silver. We have the captain of the vessel, and while not as subtle a character, certainly has his depths. And of course, the classic first-person Jim Hawkins, whose courage and resourcefulness are really the entree to this delicious meal.There are some works which seem to carry all in the genre after it. This is one of those. In the words of Jorge Luis Borges: "I like antique maps, 18th-century type styles, the origins of words, the smell of coffee, and the prose of Stevenson." Amen.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was great, with a thrilling read by B.J. Harrison of the The Classic Tales podcast. I thought I had read this before, but I think that was just all the movies I have seen over the years. The actual book is so much more developed than I expected. I really need to check out more of these classic adventure stories.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The narrator did an exceptional job diversifying characters and really bringing the story to life. A quick, classic read that was helpful diversion from quarantine!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Read this again for the first time! It's been many years and it was like reading it fresh again - ya gotta love getting old! A Classic and must-read; there are so many concepts, phrases and ideas that originated with this book. Very enjoyable. For a children's book, it is a bit rough by today's standards, but the moral lessons of loyalty are powerful - the moral ambiguity is a lesson.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was surprised to learn that this was Stevenson's first book-length fiction. I'm afraid that Long John Silver, besides making off with the pieces of eight, also steals the show, reminding me of Gogol's Sobakevich and many an American iconic politician.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A ship's crew go and head in to the ocean to find Treasure Island
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Adventure can rely on character. Robert Lewis Stevenson demonstrates this in his classic novel Treasure Island. There's plenty of adventure in Treasure Island: mysterious strangers arrive on stormy nights; innocent people survive savage attacks; abandoned ships drift out to sea; pirates climb the walls of forts under the cover of darkness to attack sleeping innocents; castaways, marooned for years, are rescued; fortunes are found and lost again.But what the reader walks away from Treasure Island remembering is the books characters. Long John Silver is the best known, but there are plenty of others, pirates and non-pirates alike. It's these characters that have kept readers coming back to Treasure Island generation after generation. They continue to frighten, to intrigue and to entertain.Illustration by N.C. WyethIn fact, most of what we know about pirates, we learned from Treasure Island. Pirates have wooden legs and wear eye patches. They walk with a crutch, but in a pinch, they can transform their crutch into a deadly spear. They keep parrots as pets and teach them to say "pieces of eight." When they get together, they can't help but sing "Sixteen men on a dead man's chest/ Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!" They are charmers, but they cannot be trusted. They terrify us, but we can't help but want to be like them. And we're always a little bit relieved when they get away in the end.Illustration by N.C. WyethThe menace and magic of Robert Lewis Stevenson's pirates are both captured by N.C. Wyeth's illustrations. The elder Wyeth has been admired by illustrators for generations, and many consider his artwork for Treasure Island to be his best. I don't know enough about the art of illustration to effectively judge N.C. Wyeth, but C.J. and I have developed a few standards in almost 15 years of shared museum going. One is do we believe the figures in the painting existed before the moment of the artwork and will they continue to exist afterwards. I think Wyeth's do. His illustrations capture parts of a larger moment. N.C. Wyeth is also a master of composition. Notice this group of three pirates climbing the walls of the fort. The viewer sees the two on the wall right away, but did you notice the third one who has already entered the fort's shadow? And look at the angle of the mast and the yard arm in the illustration above. There is no steady, level place for Jim to hide in as he climbs the ship's rigging to escape the pirate. Everything is sharp angles and dangerous slanted beams. The only solid right angle in the picture is the horizon off in the distance. Beyond that horizon, the safety of home.I can see why N.C. Wyeth is considered one of the best. His illustrations create characters with lives outside the paintings just as a good author creates characters with lives outside the book they inhabit. Wyeth and Stevenson are wonderful together.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Rollicking adventure tale - great fun and now I know more about the allusions in Arthur Ransome's novels.