Treasure Island

New Edition

Robert Louis Stevenson
Edited by Peter Hunt

Oxford World's Classics

Fascinating Introduction discusses Stevenson, the book's composition and publication history, the novel's status and reputation as both adults' and children's classic, critical reception, its place in children's literature, its innovations in the boys' story genre and its relation to the romance.
Unrivalled explanatory notes plus glossary of nautical terms.
Up-to-date bibliography and chronology.
Three appendices: two entertaining piece by Stevenson - his account of the writing and publication of Treasure Island, 'My First Book', and 'The Persons of the Tale', in which Long John Silver and another character take a break between chapters to discuss the ethics of fiction. A third appendix brings together parallels from Stevenson's sources.
Note on the Text including important variants between serial and volume publication
Text of novel completely reset

Treasure Island

New Edition

Robert Louis Stevenson
Edited by Peter Hunt

Description

The discovery of a treasure map sets young Jim Hawkins in search of buried gold, along with a crew of buccaneers recruited by the one-legged Long John Silver. As they near their destination, and the lure of Captain Flint's treasure grows ever stronger, Jim's courage and wits are tested to the full. Robert Louis Stevenson reinvented the adventure genre with Treasure Island, a boys' story that appeals as much to adults as to children, and whose moral ambiguities turned the Victorian universe on its head. This edition celebrates the ultimate book of pirates and high adventure, and also examines how its tale of greed, murder, treachery, and evil has acquired its classic status. The book features an informative Introduction and explanatory notes by Peter Hunt, an updated bibliography, a revised chronology, and a glossary of nautical terms. Hunt includes a Note on the Text that highlights important variants between serial and volume publication and he's added additional appendices, featuring Stevenson's short fable "The Persons of the Tale" and appendix of comparative episodes from Stevenson's sources.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Treasure Island

New Edition

Robert Louis Stevenson
Edited by Peter Hunt

Oxford World's Classics

Author Information

Peter Hunt is Professor Emeritus in Children's Literature, University of Cardiff.

Treasure Island

New Edition

Robert Louis Stevenson
Edited by Peter Hunt

Oxford World's Classics

From Our Blog

10 questions for Justin Scott

Each summer, Oxford University Press USA and Bryant Park in New York City partner for their summer reading series Word for Word Book Club. The Bryant Park Reading Room offers free copies of book club selections while supply lasts, compliments of Oxford University Press, and guest speakers lead the group in discussion. On Tuesday 2 July 2013, author Justin Scott leads a discussion on Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Posted on July 1, 2013

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Why Captain Marryat would have disapproved of Treasure Island

By Peter Hunt Captain Frederick Marryat, an experienced Naval Officer, was a pioneering writer of sea-and-island adventure stories, such as Peter Simple (1834) and Mr Midshipman Easy (1836). One day his children asked him to write a sequel to The Swiss Family Robinson, Johann Wyss's extravagant embroidering of the Robinson Crusoe story, which had found its circuitous way into English via William Godwin's translation of a French version in 1816. Marryat was not amused.

Posted on August 3, 2011

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Treasure Island

New Edition

Robert Louis Stevenson
Edited by Peter Hunt

Oxford World's Classics

Audio Guide

In this Oxford World's Classics audio guide, Peter Hunt, Professor Emeritus in Children's Literature at the University of Cardiff, who was responsible for setting up the first course in children's literature in the UK, introduces the newcomer to reading critically texts written for children.

Click on the links below to hear Peter's thoughts on the field and then explore Treasure Island in more detail.