Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island narrates a tale of buccaneers and buried gold. Its influence is enormous on popular perceptions of pirates. It is considered a coming-of-age story and is noted for its atmosphere, characters, and action. This story begins at the inn that belongs to young Jim Hawkin's parents. A mysterious stranger called Billy Bones, who rents a room at the inn, warns Jim to keep a look out for a 'one legged man'. One day, Billy collapses and dies. Jim finds a map in Billy's sea chest that shows where Captain Flint, an evil and heartless pirate, has buried his stolen treasure. The Squire and the Doctor decide to go and find the treasure and invite Jim to come along, on board a ship called the Hispaniola. The crew is led by the respected Captain Smollet. The ship's cook is a one legged man called Long John Silver...

To the Hesitating Purchaser

If sailor tales to sailor tunes,
Storm and adventure, heat and cold,
If schooners, islands, and maroons,
And buccaneers, and buried gold,
And all the old romance, retold
Exactly in the ancient way,
Can please, as me they pleased of old,
The wiser youngsters of today:

--So be it, and fall on! If not,
If studious youth no longer crave,
His ancient appetites forgot,
Kingston, or Ballantyne the brave,
Or Cooper of the wood and wave:
So be it, also! And may I
And all my pirates share the grave
Where these and their creations lie!