I must confess that with the notable exceptions of those by Tolkien and Wells, I’ve never really been interested in reading what I consider as ‘old books’. This is mainly due my conception that they are written in long-winded and tedious prose, as was the custom back then, but I don’t really know. Due to this ignorance however, I was pleasantly surprised when I decided to delve into the pages of Treasure Island and quickly fell in love with Robert Louis Stevenson’s witty, albeit rather archaic, text!
In fact, I actually found that his outdated form of writing greatly added to my enjoyment of the story and really brought the characters of the infamous Long John Silver and his buccaneering companions to life! Stevenson’s vivid descriptions, use of old sailor slang and his classic: “yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum” poem really made me feel as if I was adventuring on the seven seas with Jim Hawkins, Doctor Livesey and the rest; securing Treasure Island’s place in my all time favourite read’s list.
I don't feel the need to describe the plot of the book to you, as I'm sure many of you already know it. Whether from actually reading the book or watching a film (such as the Muppet’s re-enactment as I did as a child), you probably know the story well. I will recommend reading the book though, if you haven’t already, and feel confident that you won’t be disappointed! Even if you just marvel at how people used to speak, as Stevenson’s English isn't English!
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