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Book Review of Treasure Island

Treasure Island
JaneEire avatar reviewed on


Even in the great literature of the world, memorable heroes and villains very often seem similar from one story to another. But there's only one with a wooden leg and a parrot that comes to mind - Long John Silver, the sea cook. At once charming and murderous, imperious and fawning, he is a completely ruthless survivor. The two sides of his nature are so well drawn that, like the cabin boy Jim Hawkins who tells the story, you want to trust and like Long John, but you can't quite.

TREASURE ISLAND is a story of opposites. Greed, envy, treachery, and murder are balanced against honor, humor, bravery, and compassion. Behind the plot and the fates of the characters lies a tug of war between good and evil. Long John manages to include both in his personality and his actions.

The colorful tale is one that parents will delight in rediscovering as they introduce it to their children. The mysterious guest with a treasure map in his sea chest at the "Admiral Benbow" inn, the attacks on shore and the plots at sea, and, upon reaching the island, the ultimate contest between the vastly outnumbered heroes and the pirate rabble led by Silver - all move the reader at a heartpounding pace.

Because the story is told mainly through the eyes of a young cabin boy, it has been especially popular with generations of children. Jim's straightforward version of the tale is recounted with little self-consciousness or pretense. It is this elegant simplicity that makes it possible to produce an edition that - although abridged for young readers - employs the author's original wording throughout.

The exciting and detailed color illustrations of award-winning artist Alexander Mikhnushev add to the already vivid descriptions of the desolate island, the bloodthirsty pirates, the small band of heroes, and the mad Ben Gunn. Children of all ages will delight in turning to this beautiful hardcover edition of TREASURE ISLAND again and again.

"Illustrator Alexander Mikhnushev once again displays his technical mastery and fine attention to detail. In preparation for doing the artwork, he carefully researched life in the late eighteenth century, including the clothing and ships of the period. To open this book is to step back two hundred years into the world of high seas adventure."

This is an oversized book.