Who Doesn't Love a Classic? discussion

Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson
Digital audiobook performed by Ralph Cosham.
3.5***

A classic coming-of-age adventure tale set in the 18th century. Jim Hawkins is witness to some strange goings on in his parents’ inn. After his father dies, Jim and his mother escape the inn with a packet that once belonged to Captain Bones; the package includes a treasure map. Jim shows the map to physician Dr Livesey and squire John Trelawney, and they decide to go in search of the treasure aboard Trelawney’s vessel, the Hispaniola. On board ship, Jim meets various crew members, including the cook, a one-legged man named Long John Silver.

Shiver me timbers, but this was good! There are intrigues, dangers, plots, mutinies, battles, and double-crosses galore to keep the reader engaged and turning pages. And if danger isn’t enough, there are the added lures of the tropics and of treasure. If the story line is somewhat farfetched, well, who cares. It’s fun and exciting. And Stevenson gave birth to the quintessential pirate – a man with one wooden pegleg and with a parrot on his shoulder.

Ralph Cosham does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. I’d probably give him 5***** for his performance.

I also had the Scribner illustration edition handy to refer to. I’m so glad this is the edition I got from my library. It has 13 full-color plates of illustrations by N.C. Wyeth. A treasure, indeed!


LINK to my review