Silver: Return to Treasure Island

by Andrew Motion

July, 1802. In the marshy eastern reaches of the Thames lies the Hispaniola, an inn kept by Jim Hawkins and his son. Young Jim spends his days roaming the mist-shrouded estuaries, running errands for his father and listening to his stories in the taproom; tales of adventures on the high seas, of curses, murder and revenge, black spots and buried treasure - and of a man with a wooden leg.

Late one night, a mysterious girl named Natty arrives on the river with a request for Jim from her father - Long John Silver. Aged and weak, but still possessing a strange power, the pirate proposes that Jim and Natty sail to Treasure Island in search of Captain Flint's hidden bounty, the 'beautiful bar silver' left behind many years before. Silver has chartered a ship and a hardy crew for this purpose, whose captain is waiting only for the map, now locked away at the Hispaniola.

Making haste from London, Jim and Natty set off in the footsteps of their fathers, their tentative friendship growing stronger day by day. But the thrill of the ocean odyssey gives way to terror as the Nightingale reaches its destination, for it seems that Treasure Island is not as uninhabited as it once was...

Featuring a cast of noble seamen, murderous pirates, and stories of love, valour and terrible cruelty, Silver is a worthy sequel to Treasure Island - one of the greatest adventure stories ever told - and a work of extraordinary authenticity and imaginative power from one of England's greatest writers.

• ISBN10: 0224091190
• ISBN13: 9780224091190
• Publish Date: 15 March 2012
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 16 July 2014
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Vintage Publishing
• Imprint: Jonathan Cape Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 432
• Language: English

Reviews

[wcs53]

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book, but was excited to read it all the same. The story begins in 1802, 40 years after the events depicted in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, and concerns a return to the island to attempt to locate the treasure that had been left behind. The main characters are the young offspring of Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver, Jim Hawkins (jr) and Natty Silver. There are many references along the way to characters and events from the original story and there are a few surprises encountered on the way.

This book could not really be described as fast-paced, but it never seems to drag along either. The author has a great way of drawing you into the story with the very descriptive way that things and people are portrayed. It takes over a third of the book to even get near the island, but that's good, because getting there is all part of the fun.

I didn't find this book to be too predictable. There were many clues to be had as the story progressed, but things didn't always turn out the way I thought they would. Even the ending, satisfying as it was, was not exactly as I pictured it.

If you are a fan of Treasure Island, which I am, then you should find this book to be a satisfactory and fitting sequel, as well as tribute, to the original story. I should also add that you wouldn't have to be too familiar with the original book to enjoy this one, although it might help to understand some of the things going on. Besides are there many people out there who aren't familiar with Robert Louis Stevenson's classic?

I'm not that familiar with the author, Andrew Motion, other than he presided as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2009. He has a number of books published, many of which are poetry. I may check out some of these as well.

If you enjoyed Treasure Island then check out Silver. If not, check it out anyway - you may be pleasantly surprised.