I can hardly think that healthy boys will ever let Stevenson’s books of adventure die. -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Look Inside the Book

Mark Twain once defined a classic as a book that everyone wants to have read, but nobody wants to read. By that cute definition, Treasure Island is not a classic at all. It is a book that is preeminently readable, and not only so, but it is readable by a demographic group not known for its prowess in the literary arts-viz. young boys. -From Douglas Wilson’s Introduction

When Billy Bones dies and leaves young Jim Hawkins with a priceless map showing the way to a fabulous treasure island, he and his friends eagerly plan an expedition for Skull Island in hopes of making their fortunes. The only problem is that one day, while hiding in a barrel of apples, Jim Hawkins overhears a mutinous conversation, and realizes that some of Billy Bones’s former crewmates are also on board-and that they won’t hesitate to ill for a share of the silver and gold.

This Canon Classic has swashbuckling action, savage pirates, deadly islands, and a friendly but unreliable castaway. Children will be riveted by the old-fashioned story of heroism and adventure. The Canon Classics series presents the most definitive works of Western literature in a colorful, well-crafted, and affordable way. Unlike many other thrift editions, our classics are printed on thicker text stock and feature individualized designs that prioritize readability by means of proper margins, leading, characters per line, font, trim size, etc. Each book’s materials and layout combine to make the classics a simple and striking addition to classrooms and homes, ideal for introducing the best of literary culture and human experience to the next generation.

This Worldview Edition features an introduction divided into sections on The World Around, About the Author, What Other Notables Said, Setting, Characters, & Plot Summary, Worldview Analysis, and 21 Discussion Questions & Answers.