Treasure Island (Illustrated)

Robert Louis Stevenson

Apr 2013 · Top Five Classics Book 9 · Top Five Books LLC

About this ebook

This Top Five Classics edition of Treasure Island includes:

• More than 60 illustrations by N.C. Wyeth and Louis Rhead
• The essay “My First Book” by Robert Louis Stevenson, on the writing of his classic
• A Glossary of nautical terms and historical slang
• A helpful introduction, author bio, and bibliography

Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island was not the first adventure story of pirates in the Caribbean, but it may as well have been. Since its publication in 1883, it has become the standard—the first and last word on the subject—and it remains an exhilarating, satisfying read for young and old alike to this day.

This edition includes all 16 of N.C. Wyeth’s full-color paintings for the 1911 edition of the book, as well as 44 drawings by Louis Rhead for his 1915 edition. Included as an addendum at the end of the book is the essay, “My First Book: Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson on the writing of his classic. Also included are a helpful glossary of nautical and historical terms, an introduction, author bio, and bibliography.

The story begins when a strange, crusty old pirate comes to stay with Jim Hawkins’ family at the Admiral Benbow Inn. The map he carries with him will put them all in danger and be the impetus for young Jim’s perilous journey with the wily Long John Silver in search of treasure on the high seas.

Ratings and reviews

This is a wonderful book. Not only full of adventure and innocence but also the wonderfully morally ambiguous Long John Silver. A fascinating lesson in what lengths some will go in pursuit of gold.

I’ve read this book before and will definitely be reading it again in a few years! It’s a fast passed and entertaining adventure full if twists and turns, always sailing into the unexpected, in the company of very complex and memorable characters

amazing book I wish it just kept on going this book carried emotion this is now my favourite book so much detail and the story was great I absolutely love this book

About the author

Novelist, poet, and essayist Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. A sickly child, Stevenson was an invalid for part of his childhood and remained in ill health throughout his life. He began studying engineering at Edinburgh University but soon switched to law. His true inclination, however, was for writing. For several years after completing his studies, Stevenson traveled on the Continent, gathering ideas for his writing. His Inland Voyage (1878) and Travels with a Donkey (1878) describe some of his experiences there. A variety of essays and short stories followed, most of which were published in magazines. It was with the publication of Treasure Island in 1883, however, that Stevenson achieved wide recognition and fame. This was followed by his most successful adventure story, Kidnapped, which appeared in 1886. With stories such as Treasure Island and Kidnapped, Stevenson revived Daniel Defoe's novel of romantic adventure, adding to it psychological analysis. While these stories and others, such as David Balfour and The Master of Ballantrae (1889), are stories of adventure, they are at the same time fine studies of character. The Master of Ballantrae, in particular, is a study of evil character, and this study is taken even further in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886). In 1887 Stevenson and his wife, Fanny, went to the United States, first to the health spas of Saranac Lake, New York, and then on to the West Coast. From there they set out for the South Seas in 1889. Except for one trip to Sidney, Australia, Stevenson spent the remainder of his life on the island of Samoa with his devoted wife and stepson. While there he wrote The Wrecker (1892), Island Nights Entertainments (1893), and Catriona (1893), a sequel to Kidnapped. He also worked on St. Ives and The Weir of Hermiston, which many consider to be his masterpiece. He died suddenly of apoplexy, leaving both of these works unfinished. Both were published posthumously; St. Ives was completed by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, and The Weir of Hermiston was published unfinished. Stevenson was buried on Samoa, an island he had come to love very much. Although Stevenson's novels are perhaps more accomplished, his short stories are also vivid and memorable. All show his power of invention, his command of the macabre and the eerie, and the psychological depth of his characterization.