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

[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.