Before there were vampires, zombies, and assorted paranormal beasties, there were pirates, and Stevenson’s now-classic work of pirates, treasure, and parrot toting adventure, contains some of the most famous swashbucklers of them all. Oxford University Press’ newest addition comes with an exemplary introduction, putting the story in the context of the time without revealing all that makes the plot so entrancing, and making Stevenson’s own voice shine through the letters he wrote so vividly to those around him.

Treasure Island, with its dangerous characters, swashbuckling excitement, and exotic locales fits neatly into the long history of adventure literature. But it is a thoroughly unique and original work, and it is in its characters that it finds its centre. All of them, from the terrifying Blind Pew, to the brave (and initially innocent) Jim, to the various scallywags who stalk the pages and scuttle their way across the decks of ships, add layer upon layer to what could be a common, if rollicking, adventure story.  But it is the irascible and fascinating Long John Silver, who has leapt off the pages and into history, pushing all of the other characters, and much of the plot, into the role of supporting acts.

Silver deserves every bit of attention he gets. One of those characters who becomes the epitome of a character type the second he strides on stage, Silver swaggers into the book about a third of the way through, several chapters after Jim’s real adventure begins, and immediately draws the threads of the narrative about himself:

As I was waiting, a man came out of a side room, and at a glance I was sure he must be Long John. His left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder he carried a crutch, which he managed with wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham–plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling. Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, with a merry word or a slap on the shoulder for the more favoured of his guests.

Whether chasing supposed thieves, directing the search for buried treasure, or simply telling stories, Silver is mesmerizing. It is unfair, though, to assume that the only draw in Treasure Island is the admittedly splendid Silver; the plot and narrative (it should not be forgotten that this story is one of a grown man telling of the time when he was a boy) all serve to elevate this adventure story to something truly special. Stevenson masterfully uses all of the devices at his fingertips, and the worn and tattered map, the mystery of the hidden treasure, the suspicious and highly suspect companion, and the voyage into the unknown adventure, all weave together to create a story that deserves it place in the hearts of readers everywhere. This new edition, with its previously mentioned excellent introduction, a gorgeous cover, and, of course, the power of the story itself, is well worth picking up, whether it is to return to the world of Long John Silver and his compatriots or to visit it for the first time.

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