Aug 02, 2013 08:29 AM
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Robert Louis Stevenson (RLS) was/is favorite author of my favorite authors, like John Steinbeck; which mean today or tomorrow I was going to read his work. So, when I thought of reading an old classic work, RLS came to my mind, followed by the thought of 'Treasure Island', RLS’s most renowned work. Next thing I remember is that I finished reading it 3 days back. And here I am, with review of another classic Novel, which is considered, over the years, as the mother of all Pirates cum Sea based Adventure Tales. ‘Treasure Island’ was first published in 1883, and is an adventurous tale of a treasure hunt involving Pirates and lots of action and adventure. Narrated by Jim Hawkins, 14 years old Protagonist, of the story.
ABOUT THE PLOT: In a sea-side village “Black Hill Cove” of South-west England, arrives an old Drunken Seaman by the name of Billy Bones. There he takes lodging in ‘Admiral Ben Bow Inn’, owned by Jim’s father. Everyone is suspicious of Billy Bones, and is curious about what he’s hiding in the sea-chest that he carries with him. After some days, few unknown sea-men assault Bones in series of attacks during one of which he dies. Jim and his mother runs from the Inn, fearing their death at the hands of Pirates after Bones Chest, but not before opening the chest and getting hold of money and map, and it’s this map that drives the rest of the story as it is no ordinary map, it’s the map of Treasure Island, where Treasure of Notorious Pirate, Captain Flint, is buried.
Dr Livesey and Squire Trelawney on obtaining the map from Jim, plans a voyage to the island in question, in search of the treasure, with Jim accompanying them as Cabin Boy. On the ship, however, most of the helping hands turn out to be the old time pirates, some of whom were companions of Captain Flint and Billy bones. These pirates - in the leadership of Long Silver Jones, one legged seaman, onboard as the cook of the ship - have a plan of their own which is to dump the Dr Livesey, Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollet and rest of the party, after acquiring the treasure. Jim, however, secretly hears the conversation of the pirates about the plan of mutiny and informs about the same to ship’s officers.
On reaching the island, the secret becomes open and the two parties form their groups and start the mutiny. Will Jim and his companions be able to defeat the pirates – who are double in numbers and strength and more experienced? Who will find the treasure first?, and what role Bill Guns, a man Jim finds on the island on one of his errand, will play in helping out Jim and his party to defeat the pirates and find out the treasure? Oh Yes, all of that happens, but not without lots of action and adventure of hair raising extent. But that I will leave for you to find in the book itself.
ABOUT THE CHARACTERS: Characters of ‘Treasure Island’ are unforgettable. Mostly I have seen that narrator of the story doesn’t form an interesting character but Jim Hawkins, a 14 year old hero and narrator of the tale is an example of a character in those terms. Dr. Livesay forms an impressive and likable human being in this otherwise mean and cunning gathering. But the characters I most liked were those of pirates be it the Billy Bones in the initial chapters or one-legged Long John Silver afterwards, they are the ones that keep the interests intact. Especially John Silver, with his ambiguous nature, switching sides from one group to other eyeing his own benefits; from outside he is an amiable and helpful man, but inside he’s a cunning beyond limits. It’s a brilliant character and one can see shades of him in both Captain Sparrow and Captain Barbadosa of ‘Pirates of Caribbean’.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Of course, I loved reading ‘Treasure Island’. Yes, the style of writing is somewhat old – cant help the fact that it’s been written more than 120 years ago – but after the initial effort to get accustomed to the style, once you are in the in the thick of things, it’s an unforgettable journey of adventure. Plot of this tale, as we all know, has been adopted into TV serials and movies numerous times, so I already knew most of it. But the way it’s been covered in the words of RLS provides simply an amazing experience to read it.
I’m a great lover of pirate based movies. I have seen ‘Pirates of Caribbean’ series numerous times, and as I was reading this book, I felt number of characters in the movie to be borrowed from it, at least in terms of their getups/apparels and perfidious natures. This book has/had lot of influence on the way pirates were perceived afterwards – in books as well as in movies – very common example is presence of at least one one-legged seamen in all of them like Captain Barbadosa of ‘Pirates of Caribbean’.
And though I have seen numerous pirate based movies, ‘Treasure Island’ is the first pirate based book that I have read. The way it describes the terms/facts related to pirates and sea based adventures etc., it covers it all so well that it was good learning experience as well. RLS has described his characters, their getups and their surroundings in an outstanding way, which is nothing less than a visual experience. First few chapters that cover the arrival of Billy Bones in the small village of Black Hill Cove – till his death, with all the mysterious characters of pirates, grabs a reader’s attentions so well, that the gripped is never lost till the last page. The mystery, suspense and the horror raised in these chapters makes it sure that the reader won’t leave the book until it’s over.
FINALLY I'D SAY: It’s an old classic work that still hasn’t lost its charm. It’s still fresh, still adventurous, still a spine-tingling experience of utmost horrors and thrills. I highly recommend it.
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PYAR HUMEIN PHIR MILAAEGA........
