Long John Silver

[poliphilo]

Long John Silver as Stevenson wrote him is very little like the yo-ho-hoing, parrot-shouldered caricature of the movies. He's an educated man- for a pirate- and a careful man- one who has salted his money away and made it to fifty without contracting a serious rum habit like Flint or Billy Bones. Generally speaking, Stevenson's pirates are swinish sensualists- incapable of thinking beyond the next carouse.  Silver is something much more dangerous- a calculating and ruthless capitalist. His jaunt to Treasure Island is the business venture that will finally enable him to set up as a gentleman- and ride in his coach to parliament. He is a born leader and cunning manager of men. I would call him psychopathic- if it weren't for the presence- or teasing absence (because we never get to meet her) of his old lady- a woman of colour- whom he is returning to at the end of the story and whom he trusts absolutely.

Comments

[shullie.livejournal.com]

I use to love that book- you have me wanting to re read it too, and Kidnapped.... hmmmmmmm

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Stevenson is awfully good.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

It has been so very long since I read Stevenson that I shall have to take your word for it. As I recall, I enjoyed the book .

Should you take an interest in the real pirates of the great age of sail, consider the works of David Cordingly. He is a real eye-opener.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'll look out for Cordingly.

Stevenson is a consummate craftsman- and well worth reading in adulthood.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I suppose most little boys, of whatever age, love pirates and Cordkingly's work is an eye-opener.

You tempt me with Stevenson. I may have to take him up again, just out of curiosity.

My wife was born in Nicaragua, and when I was reading Cordingly and babbling about Capt Sir Henry Morgan, she not only knew who he was but explained to me just what an awful man he was. It's been centuries and they still remember and retell his sack of Gran Grenada, down there.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Morgan would be gratified that his atrocities are still remembered.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I suspect so.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

But he IS a yo-ho-hoing parrot-shouldered caricature like the ones in the movies -- when he thinks it's useful to be. It's an act he puts on, but it IS part of his character.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You have a point- when he's dealing with other pirates he can come down to their level- or almost, but no-one- high or low- ever mistakes him for a fool.

[solar-diablo.livejournal.com]

You sold me. I've been looking for something new to read of late, will check the library for a copy later today.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Excellent.

[oakmouse]

I just reread Treasure Island, read The Black Arrow for the first time, and am now rereading Kidnapped. Stevenson is great fun, and his developed characters are very well written.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm very fond of the Black Arrow. Stevenson himself regarded it as a failure, but it's an enormously entertaining failure. I love how the well-meaning hero keeps getting into fights with the wrong people.

[oakmouse]

So do I. The poor kid can't keep his mouth shut or his head on straight. *g* But then that's half the fun of the book.