Long John Silver: The True and Eventful History of My Life of Liberty and Adventure As a Gentleman of Fortune & Enemy to Mankind - Hardcover

Larsson, Bjorn; Geddes, Tom

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 186046694X ISBN 13: 9781860466946

Publisher: Harvill Pr, 1999

Synopsis

The colorful pirate of Treasure Island fame writes his memoirs from Madagascar, recalling a life of smuggling and high seas adventure that has left him a wanted man, forced to hide out from the British navy for the rest of his life.

About this title

About the Author:

Bjrn Larsson is a university lecturer in French and the author of the novel, The Celtic Ring.

From Kirkus Reviews:

Swedish writer Larssons first US publication, a retelling of the life of the pirate Silver, is a mild confection, perhaps sweetest for fans of Treasure Island who can rely on that classic to provide the motive to keep turning these many pages. Comfortably retired on Madagascar in 1742, Silver is nettled that all the literature written about his life has got it wrong. Amid his plundered riches and house staff, he opens his recollections during his youth back in Scotland, where hes raised a motherless son by a drunken father. Having learned the knack of plucky self-reliance, he takes to the sea, is shipwrecked, and later is rescued by Dunn, a charitable soul of baffling kindness. Silver falls in love with Eliza, Dunns daughter, but after he witnesses a murder, the three are forced to flee England. Dunn and Eliza dont make it out, but Dunns son, the impish, cowardly Deval, clings to Silver like a barnacle. The bulk of the story tells of Silvers adventures at sea. He sails first with Edward England, whose spirit is ultimately snapped by the cruelty of the buccaneers life; and later with a slave ship, among whose cargo he inspires a rebellion against the vicious Captain Butterworth and his ruthless aide, Scudamore. Sold into slavery himself in St. Thomas, Silver escapes and ultimately joins up with Captain Flint. With Flint, Silver loses his leg when the cowardly Deval shoots him from behind as the pirates board a ship. Silver exacts his revenge by having Devals leg sawed off and roasted over an open flamethus, Silvers nickname, Barbecue. The action scenes in these passages are what make the book, since Silvers meditations on slavery, independence, honor, and human rights are something less than stirring. Few of Stevensons Treasure Island readers, indeed, have been terribly gripped by Silvers inner life. Still, the genial old salt is harmless enough and capable of telling a fair and bloody old memory more often than not. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harvill Pr
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 186046694X
• ISBN 13: 9781860466946
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 389