“Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest— Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!”
Part I: The Old Buccaneer
The story begins at the Admiral Benbow Inn, run by young Jim Hawkins and his mother. A mysterious seaman named Billy Bones arrives, carrying a chest and warning of a “one-legged man.” After Bones dies from a stroke, Jim and his mother open the chest, finding a treasure map. They flee as pirates attack the inn, but Jim takes the map to local squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey.
Part II: The Sea Voyage
Trelawney outfits a ship, the Hispaniola, and hires a crew, including the one-legged cook Long John Silver. Jim becomes a cabin boy. During the voyage, he overhears Silver plotting mutiny with other crew members. They reach Treasure Island, where tensions rise between the loyal men and the mutineers.
Part III: My Shore Adventure
Ashore, Jim encounters Ben Gunn, a marooned former pirate who claims to know about Flint’s treasure. Meanwhile, Silver’s mutiny erupts, forcing the captain and loyal crew to retreat to a stockade. A battle ensues, with casualties on both sides.
Part IV: The Stockade
Jim sneaks out and finds Ben Gunn’s handmade boat. He uses it to cut the Hispaniola adrift, disabling the mutineers. Returning, he finds the stockade now occupied by Silver’s men. Silver spares Jim, bargaining with the boy to ensure his own survival.
Part V: The Treasure Hunt
Silver leads both factions to the treasure site, only to find it already dug up. Ben Gunn reveals he relocated it long ago. The loyal crew retrieves the treasure, marooning the mutineers (except Silver, who escapes). They sail home, dividing the riches.
Key Ideas
- Adventure and danger on the high seas
- The allure and corruption of greed
- Coming-of-age through courage and cunning
- Moral ambiguity in characters like Long John Silver
- The myth versus reality of piracy
Notable Adaptations
| 1934 | Treasure Island | First sound film adaptation starring Wallace Beery |
| 1950 | Treasure Island | Disney’s live-action version with Robert Newton |
| 1990 | Treasure Island | Charlton Heston as Silver in a TV movie |
| 2012 | Black Sails | TV series prequel blending history and fiction |
Who should read this book?
- Adventure seekers craving swashbuckling action
- Fans of morally complex antagonists
- Readers who enjoy classic coming-of-age tales
- Those interested in pirate lore and maritime history