TREASURE ISLAND



Author:


Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson


First edition:


Treasure Island, 1883

Main illustrators:


Joubert Place Rhead Wyeth


In short:


The tale may be that of Jim Hawkins, son of a guesthouse owner on the West coast of England sometime in the 18th century. The main customer of the inn is an old buccaneer, called Billy Bones, threatened by something mysterious. This threat becomes clear when a mysterious blind man gives him "the black emblem", which announces a massacre in the world of pirates. That same day, Billy, a heavy drunkard, dies. Opening his trunk, Jim and his mother find a map of a deserted island, the hiding-place of Captains Flint's treasure.
Helped by Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney, Jim charters a ship called L'Hispaniola. But Flint's gang, led by Long John Silver, are also involved in the enthralling adventure.
When both groups reach the island they fight for the treasure. Eventually the treasure ends up in good hands. Silver disppears and L'Hispaniola sails back with a precious cargo.


Selection of edition:


L'ile aux trésors, illustrated by Georges Roux, Hetzel, 1885.
Treasure Island , illustrated by N.C Wyeth, Scribner, 1911, 14 illustrations.
Treasure Island, illustrated by Louis Rhead, Harper, 1915.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by Alvaro Mairani, Lito, 1977.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by Geoffroy de Pennart, G.P., 1979.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by George Roux, Gallimard, 1980.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by Peter Dennis, Deux Coqs d'or, 1982.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by Thierry Jallet, Bias, 1987.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by Henriette Munière, Livre de poche, 1992.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by Solbej Crevelier, Lito, 1991.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by Pierre Joubert, Fleurus, 1992.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by Eric Rowe, Hamma, 1992.
L'ile au trésor, illustrated by Philippe Joubert, éd. Fleurus, 1994.
L'île au trésor, illustrated by François Place, Gallimard, 1994.
L'ïle au trésor, illustrated by Pierre-Olivier Leclerc, Hachette, 1994.


More about Treasure Island:


Treasure Isalnd was first published in the magazine Young Folks under the alternative title "The Sea-Cock or the Treasure Island". Since its appearance, the book became a classic of Literature of adventures, to the point of being compared to The Odyssey. You should include the book within English literary tradition, between Daniel De Foe's Robinson Crusoe and Melville. Like all the other successful novels written by Stevenson, this book is worth reading for its balance between reality and phantasy. Stevenson always wrote with accuracy and concretion.

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