2025 Reading Challenge 29 Treasure Island
I remember that as a kid, my dad had walls of bookshelves in the living room, dining room, and upstairs. Many of the books were collections, like Punch, The Strand, but also a vast amount of boys’ adventures, like G. A. Henty and his ode to colonialism 😬 By Right of Conquest: With Cortez in Mexico. Within this mishmash, it was easy to find the odd classic, including Treasure Island. I remember reading it through in a few days during one long school summer holiday.
Some of the most memorable passages in the book are at the start as Jim Hawkins entertains a collection of pirates in his parents’ remote Inn: Billy Bones, Black Dog and Blind Pew. I remember the description of Pew sending shivers up my spine: “He was hunched over and moved quickly, with a cruel, silent precision,” and his icy, cold hands that grabbed hold of Jim. Reminds me of a spider, waiting to pounce on some unsuspecting prey. All senses bar the eyes are operating beyond their maximum.
It’s not long before Jim is dragged into this adventure by way of the most excellent McGuffin, the treasure map. Jim heads off to find gold doubloons along with Doctor Livesy and the squire, coming across the infamous Long John Silver.
Long John Silver, what a character, what a tumble of opposites and someone you just can’t help rooting for, even though you need to remember he’s a cheat, a scoundrel and a murderer. Played to perfection, or at least a memorable characterisation by Robert Newton in the 1950 movie of the same name as the book. Pick up the film and listen to Newton get his Speak-like-a-Pirate acting chops around lines like this, “Ah-hahahahah ... Lord love me, lad. Don't you know that them that sailed with Admiral 'Awrke 'ad no speakin' acquaintance with pirates ... 'less'n they boarded us! Ah-hahahahah. Ar, Jim, you're the spit 'n' image o' me when I was your age. 'Ead full o' pirates. But ye'll find, same as I, that the biggest satisfaction a man gets is doin' 'is duty.”
Oh, I should mention Jim’s father dies, but then Jim hardly mentions it, so tally ho and let’s grab the loot!
For an old novel, it moves at breakneck speed, and we are on Treasure Island before you can blink. Here, there are crosses and double crosses, mainly centred around Jim’s impetuous nature, jumping off the ship to follow the pirates, jumping back on the ship to steer it away from the pirates, killing folk, stealing stuff, finding castaways, giving them cheese, disobeying the captain and anyone else in charge, he’s a tearaway!
For a simple, somewhat innocent story that a hundred and one stories have stolen from, it is pretty violent and blood thirsty, but it is mainly the pirates that get slaughtered, and they were heading for the noose anyway, so good riddance.
Overall, this book came at a time when I was bombarded with so many deadlines, mainly work, that it helped to have such a straightforward and enjoyable read.
I gave it 7.0 out of 10.
TTRPG Thoughts:
As well as fantastic NPC descriptions and some thoughts around exciting set pieces and encounters, I keep coming back to Drama System and, in particular, the setting Pyrates written by Graeme Davis. Steve Dempsey GM’d a brilliant game.
It focuses on the crew of a pirate ship and their 19th-century Caribbean treasure hunting.
From the play report…
Afore long, Captain Childe had devised a sure-fire plan to rob the wealthy Hamiltons and burn their plantation to the ground.
But all was not well with our scurvy-ridden crew. A barber surgeon with a penchant for laudanum, a brother and half-brother at each other's throats and a wily old cleric who seemed more intent on the lustre of gold than any divine light.
So it was that the surgeon ended up ringing a bell to betray his comrades, as the first mate absconded with a king's ransom of treasure and the clergy and carpenter disappeared into the jungle, their bickering heard over the sound of gunfire.
In the end, I believe we all received a lesson from the good book. Indeed, Obadiah's words can be heard in the chapel as he leads the sermon for his recently departed (second) wife, Mary, 'A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.'
