Robert Louis Stevenson & Lloyd Osbourne: The Ebb-Tide

Hi

The Ebb-Tide is the second story in the book. It has 146 pages and at the end of the book there are three contemporary reviews for a total of 13 pages.
You can find all my Robert Louis Stevenson reviews here.

“Published in 1894, the year of Stevenson's death, this novel tells of three unscrupulous men entrusted to deliver a cargo of champagne aboard a ship whose crew has died of smallpox. The three embark on a drunken voyage, only to discover an island whose sole European inhabitant, Attwater, has amassed a fortune in pearls.”

I really didn’t care for this story; it is boring, it’s all over the place and it’s hard to grasp what’s actually happening.

Meh.

See you next time.
Helena

This happened.

Robert Louis Stevenson: Treasure Island

Hi

Treasure Island is the first story in this beautiful Penguin English Library book which I got from the Fnac.
This story has 220 pages.
You can find all my Robert Louis Stevenson reviews here.

“The most popular pirate story ever written in English, featuring one of literature’s most beloved “bad guys,” Treasure Island has been happily devoured by several generations of boys—and girls—and grownups. Its unforgettable characters include: young Jim Hawkins, who finds himself owner of a map to Treasure Island, where the fabled pirate booty is buried; honest Captain Smollett, heroic Dr. Livesey, and the good-hearted but obtuse Squire Trelawney, who help Jim on his quest for the treasure; the frightening Blind Pew, double-dealing Israel Hands, and seemingly mad Ben Gunn, buccaneers of varying shades of menace; and, of course, garrulous, affable, ambiguous Long John Silver, who is one moment a friendly, laughing, one-legged sea-cook . . .and the next a dangerous pirate leader!”

Treasure Island was an enjoyable, easy read.
It’s full of adventure, betrayal, courage, pirates, mutiny and murder.

It’s clearly written for kids and boys especially and I think this must be one awesome novel for them. As a 26-year old woman I didn’t think this anything special but it was entertaining.

Happy reading.
Helena

Robert Louis Stevenson: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Hi

This review is about The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The book contains another short novella: The Imp Bottle.
It has 111 pages and I got it at a Waterstones.

 “Published as a 'shilling shocker', Robert Louis Stevenson's dark psychological fantasy gave birth to the idea of the split personality. The story of respectable Dr Jekyll's strange association with 'damnable young man' Edward Hyde; the hunt through fog-bound London for a killer; and the final revelation of Hyde's true identity is a chilling exploration of humanity's basest capacity for evil.”

I wish I could have read this novel without knowing anything about it. But that’s impossible because everyone knows what it’s about. I think it would have been so much more shocking and exciting to read this without knowing the plot.

To me, the novel is about the duality of human nature, but I won’t bore you with more details.
The story is fascinating, haunting, shocking, very fast and so, so exciting.
It is well written, easy to read and descriptive with some beautiful prose.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this.

Happy reading!
Helena

Wine and a book. My kind of evening.