Treasure Island

 

With some free time at this time of the year, I decided to embark on four classic reads from the New York Times 100 best fiction novels of all-time. 

The first one I read was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.  Hard to believe I never read this book, but I certainly have heard/seen the tale which presents the search for the missing treasure by a young lad and all whom he involves along the way.   The story begins at an inn run by a family, the Hawkins.  Early in the story, Mr. Hawkins dies and a visiting old sailor (known as the captain), who seemingly has no money, asks to stay at the inn until he is visited by some old pirates.  A fight ensues and the old sailor (Billy Bones) is left for dead, and eventually dies.  The person who is looking for “Billy Bones” appears at the Hawkins Inn, prior to that, young Hawkins (Jimmy) and his mother, decide to look through the chest of the dead man as they realize he is hiding something and others are coming to find him.  Jimmy finds a map that appears to reveal the location of a treasure, since he found the key on Billy Bones’ dead body.  Jimmy tells the local doctor (Livesey) about the treasure map and the key, and how he plans on finding the treasure allowing Livesey to join his team to sail and find the riches left behind by Captain Flint.  Livesey assembles a team for the voyage, some are old sailors and others friends that want to partake in the voyage.  One of Livesey’s companions tells others about the treasure, which is sure to attract unsavory people on the voyage, which it does.  Finally when the team and the boat are acquired, off they venture to find the treasure.  Jimmy overhears some of the crew plotting to overtake Livesey and the Captain once the boat approaches land.  Of course between their own mutineers and pirates who also heard of the voyage, Livesey and his small group of supporters have to fight to hold off the enemies.  Jimmy plays a key role in the fighting, as does Ben Gun, a young sailor who was stuck on the island for three years before this crew arrived.  Eventually good defeats evil, but it has its cost.  Livesey, Ben Gun, and of course, Jimmy are on the winning team who not only find the treasure, but escape the island and head back to England to live the high life!  Always enjoy happy-ending stories where the good-guys outlast the bad guys.  Fun read and much better than I anticipated.  Also, a fun read for a parent to read to their child as a bed-time story.  Dreaming of the missing treasure?  Why not, it does exist somewhere out there