L'isola del tesoro

Di Robert Louis Stevenson

Introduzione di Gianluigi Melega
Traduzione di Angiolo Silvio Novaro
Edizione integrale

La mappa di un’isola sperduta nell’oceano, il miraggio di un tesoro nascosto, indimenticabili figure di crudeli pirati e soprattutto il ragazzo protagonista, il coraggioso Jim Hawkins. E poi ancora ammutinamenti, i pericoli dell’oceano in tempesta, spargimenti di sangue… Se esiste un racconto dell’avventura questo è L’isola del tesoro: ecco perché sin dalla sua pubblicazione ha catturato e continua a catturare l’immaginazione dei ragazzi di ogni continente e di tante generazioni. Stevenson scrisse l’avvincente romanzo per il figlio, non suo, della donna che aveva sposato. Era un modo per essergli vicino, per dimostrargli un affetto che voleva essere forte quanto quello paterno. Forse anche per questo Jim Hawkins, che s’imbarca come mozzo sulla goletta Hispaniola alla ricerca del tesoro, riunisce in sé simpatia, audacia, sincerità e intraprendenza. E forse per questo ogni adolescente ama riconoscersi in Jim e sogna di vivere avventure altrettanto emozionanti.

«Con le ali ai piedi attraversammo la zona boscosa che ci separava dal fortino, sentendo a ogni passo le grida dei pirati risuonar più vicine.»




Robert Louis Stevenson

nato a Edimburgo nel 1850 e morto a Samoa nel 1894, è uno dei maggiori scrittori di lingua inglese. Tra le sue opere la Newton Compton ha pubblicato nella collana GTE L'isola del tesoro e Lo strano caso del Dr. Jekyll e Mr. Hyde e altri racconti del terrore.

• Lingua: Italiano
• Editore: Newton Compton Editori
• Data di uscita: 16 dic 2013
• ISBN: 9788854142862

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and travel writer. Born the son of a lighthouse engineer, Stevenson suffered from a lifelong lung ailment that forced him to travel constantly in search of warmer climates. Rather than follow his father’s footsteps, Stevenson pursued a love of literature and adventure that would inspire such works as Treasure Island (1883), Kidnapped (1886), Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886), and Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes (1879).

Anteprima del libro

PARTE PRIMA

IL VECCHIO FILIBUSTIERE

Capitolo primo. Il vecchio lupo di mare all’«Ammiraglio Benbow»

Pregato dal cavalier Trelawney, dal dottor Livesey e dal resto della brigata, di scrivere la storia della nostra avventura all’isola del tesoro, con tutti i suoi particolari, nessuno eccettuato, salvo la posizione dell’isola; e ciò perché una parte del tesoro ancora vi è nascosta, - io prendo la penna nell’anno di grazia 17.. e mi rifò dal tempo quando il mio babbo teneva la locanda dell’«Ammiraglio Benbow» e il vecchio uomo di mare dal viso abbronzato e sfregiato da un colpo di sciabola prese alloggio presso di noi.

Lo ricordo come fosse ieri, quando entrò con quel suo passo pesante, seguito dalla carriola che portava il baule. Alto, poderoso, bruno, con un codino incatramato che gli ricadeva sul colletto della sua bisunta giacca blu: le mani ruvide e ragnate di cicatrici, dalle unghie rotte e orlate di nero; e, attraverso la guancia, il taglio del colpo di sciabola d’un bianco livido e sporco. Roteò in giro un’occhiata fischiettando tra sé, e poi, con la sua vecchia stridula e tremula voce ritmata e arrochita dalle manovre dell’argano, intonò quell’antica canzone di mare che doveva più tardi così spesso percuotere i nostri orecchi:

Quindici sopra il baule del morto,

Quindici uomini yò-hò-hò,

E una bottiglia di rum per conforto!

Poi con un pezzo di bastone simile a una manovella batté contro la porta, e come il mio babbo apparve, ordinò bruscamente un bicchiere di rum. Appena gli fu portato, lo bevve lentamente assaporandolo all’uso dei conoscitori, e intanto seguitava a guardare intorno a sé esaminando le colline e la nostra insegna.

«Questo è un luogo adatto», disse alfine, «e ottimamente situato. Molta gente, amico mio?»

Mio padre rispose che no; poca assai: una desolazione.

«Bene. È l’ancoraggio che fa per me. Ehi, tu», gridò all’uomo della carriola, «vieni, e aiuta a portar su il mio baule. Resterò qui un pezzetto», continuò. «Sono un uomo alla buona, io: rum, prosciutto, uova; altro non mi bisogna, e quella punta lassù per osservar le navi che passano. Il mio nome? Capitano, potete chiamarmi. Ah, capisco, capisco ciò che vi preoccupa... Prendete!» E gettò sul banco tre o quattro monete d’oro. «Mi avvertirete quando sarà finito», aggiunse, con uno sguardo fiero, da comandante.

In verità, malgrado i suoi abiti frusti e il suo rozzo parlare, egli non aveva l’aria d’un marinaio: si sarebbe piuttosto detto un secondo o un padrone di nave, abituato a vedersi ubbidito o a picchiare. L’uomo della carriola ci riferì ch’era sbarcato dalla corriera la mattina dianzi al «Royal George», che s’era informato degli alberghi lungo la costa, e udito parlar bene del nostro, lo aveva prescelto in grazia del suo isolamento. Questo fu tutto quanto potemmo sapere sul conto del nostro ospite.

Egli era assai taciturno. Passava la sua giornata gironzolando intorno alla cala, o per le colline, provvisto d’un cannocchiale marino; e tutta la sera rimaneva in un angolo della sala accanto al fuoco, a bere dei grog molto forti. A chi gli rivolgeva la parola evitava per lo più di rispondere: dava una rapida e irosa guardata, e soffiava per le nari come una tromba d’allarme; sicché tanto noi che gli avventori imparammo presto a lasciarlo stare. Ogni giorno, quando rientrava dalla sua passeggiata, non tralasciava di chiedere se qualche marinaio si fosse visto lungo la strada. Noi credevamo dapprima fosse la mancanza d’una compagnia di gente della sua specie che lo spingesse a tali domande; finimmo però col capire che, al contrario, ciò che gli premeva era evitare incontri. Quando un marinaio scendeva all’«Ammiraglio Benbow» (come talvolta accadeva a chi recavasi a Bristol per la strada costiera) egli guatava il nuovo arrivato attraverso la cortina dell’uscio prima di decidersi a passar nella sala, e finché quello non alzava i tacchi, stava muto come un pesce. Codesto contegno non aveva peraltro nulla di misterioso ai miei occhi, giacché io in certo modo dividevo le preoccupazioni del capitano. Un giorno tirandomi in disparte m’aveva promesso un pezzo d’argento di quattro pence per ogni primo del mese, a patto ch’io facessi buona guardia e l’avvisassi non appena comparisse un «marinaio con una gamba sola». Spesso accadeva che giungeva il primo del mese, e io dovevo richiedergli il mio salario: egli allora mi rispondeva con quel suo pauroso soffiare attraverso le nari, e con una guardataccia che mi atterriva: ma la settimana non passava mai senza ch’egli si ravvedesse e mi rimettesse i miei quattro pence ripetendomi l’ordine di stare attento al marinaio con una gamba

Recensioni su L'isola del tesoro

[zentasy72 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

This book contains everything you could expect from a story like this. Although this is one of the well-known classics, I had not read it yet. I am very happy that I have done so now.

The story follows Jim Hawkins who lives with his mother in the "Admiral Benbow" inn in a seaside town. When pirate Bill, who is a client at the inn, leaves a treasure map after his death, Jim sets off on an adventure to find the treasure. It is written in short chapters and after each chapter you want to know what Stevenson has in store for Hawkins and co. Because of the interesting story and the short chapters I read this fairly quickly.

If you have not yet become acquainted with this classic, it is highly recommended.

[toby.neal · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

Fun and wonderfully told adventure story. It’s amazing how much of piracy in pop culture owes to Robert Louis Stevenson.

[larryking1-1 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

So there I was, drifting in Pandemic Land, wondering what to read next, when the soft dulcet voice of Lou Reed drifted into my sullen consciousness: "I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seasOn a great big clipper shipGoing from this land here to thatOn a sailor's suit and cap..." And, then, right after that, this early Dylan lyric came crashing through the Pandemic Mayhem: "Haul on the bowline, we sang that melody...like all tough sailors do, when they're far away at sea!" In a moment, the die was cast. I knew that the next book I would read, or reread rather, would be Treasure Island, one that I read some, what, forty years ago, as a mere child? It was a great idea! What a treat! What pleasure! And the fact that the back cover said, "For children, aged 10-14," discouraged me not a whit! To make matters even better, it so happened that my edition was a facsimile of a 1911 one, illustrated by one NC Wyeth, the father of the very Andrew (Mansplain Alert!), who painted Christina's World (and not to forget the voluptuous Helga). But I digress. This adventure story was an unalloyed delight, a story of intrigue, treachery, courage, and a cast of characters right out of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland! I can say no more save this: English literature is awash (as we pirates say) with secondary characters of the highest order: Holmes' Dr Watson, Dickens Madame Defarge, King Arthur's Merlin, Alice's Cheshire Cat, and so on...so allow me to introduce another one, the charismatic Long John Silver, the humble, affable ship's cook in this gripping yarn...or was he only a cook? Read it to find out!

[aliceanna-1 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

I just really had trouble getting into this. The characters were so two-dimensional and the "action" went from a lot of talking to a lot of killing and back to a lot of talking. Not my cuppa Joe.

[abigailadams26 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

When an old seaman named Billy Bones comes to stay at the Admiral Benbow Inn run by Jim Hawkins and his parents, the young English boy finds himself unexpectedly caught up in an exciting adventure involving pirates and hidden treasure. Enlisted in the local squire's quest to find the treasure buried on the eponymous Treasure Island, Jim becomes a cabin boy on the voyage out, encountering treachery and dangers he did not anticipate...Like many children's classics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Treasure Island was first published serially, in the Young Folks magazine, before being released in book form in 1883. An instant success, it has remained immensely popular ever since, published in innumerable editions, and frequently adapted for stage, film and television. Somehow, despite being well aware of it since childhood, I had never picked it up, until it was assigned as one of our texts in a class I took during the course of my masters. I'm so happy that I finally did get to it, as I found it immensely engrossing and entertaining. Atmospheric, exciting, it immediately grabs hold of the reader, and takes them along on an extraordinary adventure. The themes here are fascinating, and led me to include the book in a paper I wrote on the island as an example of the 'lapsed topos,' as envisioned by Jane Suzanne Carroll, in her Landscape in Children's Literature. Recommended to all readers who enjoy adventure stories, or who love tales of seafaring and pirates.

[caseybp · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

The book that gave us our mythical idea of pirates. Such a great story! One of the best novels I have ever read!

[milliehennessy · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

This is one of the classics I’ve wanted to read for a long time, but have put it off because I wanted to like it and wasn’t sure I would. Turns out, I liked it!As I mentioned on a Goodreads update, I pictured the entire cast based on that of Muppet Treasure Island because how could I not!? Sadly, there aren’t any original roles for Gonzo and Rizzo, so they were left out of my imaginings. The first half of the movie was surprisingly faithful to the book, song and dance numbers aside. Anyway!Jim is a smart lad, quick on his feet and fairly brave, which proves useful to his allies several times throughout the story. BookJim has less personality than MuppetMovieJim (ok, I know I need to stop comparing them) yet I found him more likable. Jim is young, around fourteen if I remember correctly (which I probably don’t), and therefore very excited about the chance of an adventure at sea. But he does show an impressive amount of caution once he realizes the danger he’s in. I enjoyed that he admitted his fear in several situations (he’s the narrator, by the way), yet soldiered on. There’s not a lot of a character arc for him (or anyone, really), but he kept my interest.The story was a faster read than I expected – some classics feel heavy due to the antiquated language and can get incredibly wordy. I flew through this book in a matter of days. The plot keeps a nice pace and the action is spread out amongst Jim’s musings and observations about life at sea and then the island itself. There were some scenes where I had no idea what the hell took place, however. I just know actions took place and as a result, the story moved forward (example: Jim somehow hijacked the ship all by himself) and rather than re-read to clarify, I just plowed forward. So that fault lies entirely with me, but I thought I’d mention it anyway.All in all, I wasn’t blown away. The story lacks a lot of detail in regards to world and character building (though I was happy to be spared the constant facial and clothing descriptions that often come with more modern works), but the simplistic style did make it easily readable. I’m not sure what the book was missing (Muppets maybe?!), but I wanted just a touch of something more. It was enjoyable, but not a classic I’ll return to. Fairly suitable for younger readers though, as there’s not much in the way of violence and what there is could easily be skimmed over.

[eglinton_1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Stevenson’s taut and fast-paced adventure still entertains. From this stirring tale originates much of the language and icons of pirates we know so well: old sea-dogs, grog, pieces of eight, parrots, sea chests. Young Jim Hawkins, a mere lad, is both repelled and invigorated by the rugged old seamen of fortune, bent on treasure or vengeance, and their blundering misadventures in the Caribbean. Should the narrative briefly slacken, Jim takes on some reckless or daring initiative to move it on. Long John Silver, the arch villain, is also somehow the star of the show, bristling with charisma and cunning. Characters and motives sometimes blur, but the story’s energy and spirit prevail. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

[salsabrarian · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

Narrated by Alfred Molina. Had this on my to-listen list because of Molina's lauded performance. He tackles the classic with aplomb, differentiating among the voices of the growly pirates and the keen gentlemen, and smoothly describing the technical sailing terms as if he were an experienced sailor. I have to say the sailing terms were hard to grasp on audio, as well as the strategizing among the gentlemen and pirates. But at least I can say I finally experienced this pirate classic.

[les121 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

A fantastic swashbuckling adventure!

[bookomaniac-1 · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

Echt actieverhaal, maar van een bijzondere soort. Jim is een echte held, die ondanks naiviteit toch bepalend is voor de redding van de groep. Opvallend is vooral het dubbele portret van John Silver: moorddadige piraat, valserik aan de ene kant, maar ook romantische piraat, intelligent, goed wetend wat het goede is.

[helenliz_1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

One of those books I can't believe I've never read - but this is my first encounter with Treasure Island. Narrated by Jim Hawkins, it follows the adventures of a young boy as he encounters a former Pirate, then gets involved in a chase for hidden treasure and battle with mutinous pirates. It's exciting, but has some serious consideration as well. Well worth reading.

[fyrefly98 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Summary: An old sailor named Billy Bones comes to the Admiral Benbow Inn, and dies after telling Jim Hawkins, the innkeeper's son, that his old crewmates are after the contents of his chest. When Jim opens the chest, he finds a map that supposedly has the location of an island where the notorious pirate Captain Flint buried much of his treasure. A local squire and doctor come up with the plan of buying a ship and going after the treasure, but the crew that they hire for the ship turns out to be former associates of Flint's, who are seeking the treasure for themselves.Review: Treasure Island is on the list of classics that I'd never read - which is sort of surprising, because naval adventures and pirates are right up my alley. But then I started watching Black Sails, and talking to a friend who was also watching it, and she told me that it was a prequel to Treasure Island, so I figured I should probably go tick another classic novel off my "to read" list.I'm sorry I waited so long. Admittedly, if you'd handed me this book as a kid I don't know that I'd have gotten into it; a lot of classics have fairly dense text that makes my eyes glaze over, and looking at the print version, this seems like one of them. But I listened to it in audio, and thought it was great. The narrator did an excellent job of parsing through the longer and more tangled sentences, and really brought the adventure to life. There were a few things that didn't entirely work for me, particularly the transition from one part to the next. I found the relatively large shifts in story (in location, in time, or in narrative voice, and sometimes in more than one of those) really distracting, and I didn't have a good enough handle on all of the character's names (particularly the more minor characters) to always be able to figure out who was where and who was doing what. But overall, it was a fun story, and it convinced me to seek out more of Stevenson's books -- in audio, though, of course. 4 out of 5 stars.Recommendation: Pirates! Secret maps! Talking parrots! Mutiny! Castaways! Skeletons! Buried Treasure! If you like any of those things, it's probably best to go back to the source, and the good news is this book is pretty easy going (especially in audio) and fun. (Although you do get some spoilers about who lives and who doesn't in Black Sails. Heh.)

[wassilissa · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Definitiv ein Klassiker des Abenteuerromans ist „Die Schatzinsel“ und zu Recht ist R.L. Stevenson ein mittlerweile wieder anerkannter Autor. Dieser Erstlingsroman des damals 30-jährigen entstand, als er mit seinem Stiefsohn zum Zeitvertreib eine Schatzkarte zeichnete. Zunächst erschien die Geschichte als Fortsetzungsroman und dann- das war der endgültige Durchbruch- als kompletter Roman. Bis heute prägt dieses Buch unsere Bilder von Piraten: Holzbein, Papagei auf der Schulter, Schatzkarte. Die Namen der Protagonisten sind auch ohne Kenntnis des Buches bekannt: Jim Hawkins, Ben Gunn, Captain Flint und natürlich vor allem Long John Silver. Vor allem der letztgenannte entspricht ganz dem zwiespältigen Bild des Piraten und trägt zu den vielen Wendungen des Buches bei: Einerseits erscheint er fleißig, humorvoll und jovial, andererseits verschlagen, grausam und rücksichtslos. Für jugendliche Leser ist der junge Jim Hawkins die Identifikationsfigur. Jim fand die Schatzkarte bei einem verstorbenen Gast im Gasthaus eines Vaters und fährt als Schiffsjunge mit. Er ist mutig, findet immer wieder interessante Informationen heraus und rettet letztendlich seine Freunde und den Schatz.„Die Schatzinsel“ ist ein auch heute noch lesbarer Abenteuerroman - erstaunlich unterhaltsam und spannend.

[lynngood · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Good clasic

[anagarika · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Pure classic.

[miguelnunonave · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

An adventures book that manages to be crafted as a masterpiece. The utlimate teens book. Beautifully lyric passages that made me, for the first time, realize the beauty of the English language.

[rickyhaas · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

The first time I read this book was in fourth grade and I loved it even then. Its definitely one of my favorite classic books and my all time favorite pirate story. Jim Hawkins, the protagonist and main narrator is a thirteen year old boy who many young boys can easily relate to. The characters are vibrant and unique, including Long John Silver, one of the most incredible villains ever created. The story also flows nicely with a only a brief interruption of Jim's narrative in which another character narrates for a couple chapters. However the transition is smooth and doesn't cause confusion. All this together makes this one of my favorites books and I would definitely recommend it to readers of all ages. And I can't say enough about the Word Cloud Classic edition of the book. Imprinted to the front and back of the book are characters' names and quotes from the book and it just looks awesome. Also the movie Treasure Planet based on this book is a really interesting Science Fiction adaption of the story.

[thesmellofbooks · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

So glad I finally read this book.

[bogopea · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Good adventure story at any age. I never read it as a child as it was considered a boy's book. It's a great tale, very fast paced with interesting characters.

[mbmackay · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

Treasure Island was one of my first boys' adventure books - last read in the 1960s! I had fun re-reading the book after all these years. The young hero, working with adults, but always one step ahead in dealing with the bad guys, seems to be the model for so many other young heroes - leading to Tin Tin and Harry Potter, for example. I don't know if Stevenson was the first to create to wiser-than-adults child hero - I can't think of any earlier versions, but he certainly popularised the concept. Great reading. Read in e-format August 2013.

[versor-1 · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

I really enjoyed reading through this. It's a great adventure tale, and it has been deemed a classic for good reason.

A lot of my reading was colored by the number of times I've seen various film adaptations of the story, and I must say I was impressed that no film version I have ever seen accurately represents the entire story. One will get these things right, another will get those things right, and all of them will miss out on this tidbit, or that one. But I liked the book a great deal.

It doesn't get five stars for... some reason or another. I don't quite remember. My brain is a little frazzled right now, for personal reasons; perhaps I will amend this review later if I think of more details.

[maggieflo_1 · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

Jim Hawkins narrates this story of the search for buried treasure. Main characters include Dr. livesey, Trelawney, capt Smolttet, Long John Silver and members of the crew.

[the_airtwit · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

Landlubbers: Avast! Ahoy, me hearties.

How can anyone be unfamiliar with this story? It took me years, I admit, to finally read Stevenson’s book despite the few film adaptions I’ve seen and enjoyed. (My personal favorite thus far is Treasure Planet, and the most intoxicating urge to re-watch it has bubbled for weeks.)

As said by the world’s favorite Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade, “We do not follow maps to buried treasure, and ‘X’ never, ever marks the spot.” Poof! What is that I heard? Only my impractical childhood dream of becoming an archeologist dying. Of course, “X” always marks the spot in the realm of piracy. It’s only a matter of whether someone gets there before you — sea adventures, rum, the disregard of hygiene, singing drunk, daily hangovers, knife fights, and I didn’t mention the best parts of all: a new vocabulary and treasure! Sign me up.

I am a little at odds, however. The first time I eyed the Treasure Island cover and began a sweep through the landscape of text, I thought it was boring. Boring! I read what felt like 100 pages in the course of a week, and I had gone nowhere except Admiral Benbow Inn. In reality, I read about 29 or so pages–if that, even–in the span of one month. Should I have not said that to spare myself embarrassment? If a twelve year old can read and love this book… Well, I have news for you: so can I. Or I can at least offer modest appreciation for its existence. Without it, there would be no Treasure Planet, God forbid.

I haven’t a clue what possessed me to stretch 29 pages through 30 days the first time around. Really. I happily finished Treasure Island in two days, but that’s not to say I clung to every word frothing with love. Paragraphs dedicated to navigation allowed a noose to strangle my interest as I skimmed. Jim, my dear, I do not care which direction this and that lies. Describe your general surrounding and it will all be okay. It goes with the book’s pirate theme, I understand, and I present no further quarrels than my tipsy attention. Except...

In film adaptions, I like the presentation of the camaraderie formed between Long John Silver and Jim. The bond is jovial and seemingly sincere, which makes it all the more fragile when Silver’s treachery punctures it. It felt like something was amiss, then, because I didn’t see a friendship blossom and weaken by reading the book. Instead, I found it halfheartedly told. Although dilapidated comprehension may be culprit, or even a different reading viewpoint, Jim’s narrative perspective felt limited at times in the depths and complexities of relationships. Because it’s told in past-tense, the rush and excitement, even peril, of this adventure read at a steady pace.

Simply, I was neither eager to put the book down, nor was I flipping through pages out of hungry anticipation. I like this story, sure, but I don’t find it likeable enough to love it or lacking enough to dislike it, either.

[bettesbooks · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

I usually dislike reading classics because the writing style is so different from what we read every day. But, RLS style was not offsetting, maybe because I expected the “pirate” style of talking and so wasn’t distracted by mentally trying to rewrite the text. And, with any adventure story you must be in the frame of mind for the adventure. I put down several times because I couldn’t settle into the story, but once my attention was attached I could not put it down.

[sarahgracegrzy · Valutazione: 3 su 5 stelle]

Not really my cup of tea, but I can understand why it's a classic.

[emmabtate · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Bedtime reading for my son who really enjoyed it. I was surprised how different it is to the tv versions, and I enjoyed doing pirate impressions out loud! Good read.

[srboone · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Grandly entertaining story of a a young man's acquistion of a treasure map and the ensuing treasure hunt. Not as engaging as it could have been due to the way the story is segmented, but still a great read I enjoyed very much.

[bohemima · Valutazione: 5 su 5 stelle]

Come and join us in a wonderful adventure story. Pirates, parrots, treasure maps. One of the most complicated villains in all of Victorian literature. An exotic setting, an exotic time frame. Who could ask for more?At a coastal inn, a mysterious and somewhat evil man takes up residence. Soon he’s pursued my creepy foes. What ensues is the most influential pirate story ever. Stevenson was admittedly aiming at a young male audience, but a reader would need to be unimaginative in the extreme not to get caught up in Jim Hawkins’ adventures on the high seas. Definitely recommended.

[stephlaymon · Valutazione: 4 su 5 stelle]

Treasure Island was so much more my thing than I thought that it would be. There was a lot of drama, action, and suspense. It's an odd thing to read classics that were intended for a younger reading audience. I would let my children read them, but I can easily see where some parents would give pause. Some of the content in these books is controversial today...But hey! They are among the best ever written.