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Robert Louis Stevenson was born to Thomas and Margaret Isabella Balfour Stevenson in Edinburgh on 13 November 1850. From the beginning he was sickly. Through much of his childhood he was attended by his faithful nurse, Alison Cunningham, known as Cummy in the family circle. She told him morbid stories about the Covenanters (the Scots Presbyterian martyrs), read aloud to him Victorian penny-serial novels, Bible stories, and the Psalms, and drilled the catechism into him, all with his parents' approval. Thomas Stevenson was quite a storyteller himself, and his wife doted on their only child, sitting in admiration while her precocious son expounded on religious dogma. Stevenson inevitably reacted to the morbidity of his religious education and to the stiffness of his family's middle-class values, but that rebellion would come only after he entered Edinburgh University.
The juvenilia that survives from his childhood shows an observer who was already sensitive to religious issues and Scottish history. Not surprisingly, the boy who listened to Cummy's religious tales first tried his hand at retelling Bible stories: "A History of Moses" was followed by "The Book of Joseph." When Stevenson was sixteen his family published a pamphlet he had written entitled The Pentland Rising, a recounting of the murder of Nonconformist Scots Presbyterians who rebelled against their royalist persecutors.
Brimming with action, atmosphere and edge-of-your-seat adventure, Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic swashbuckler about "buccaneers and buried gold” is every bit as thrilling today as it was to its first readers back in 1883. The language is richly descriptive, yet still eminently readable to modern readers, thanks to its lively dialogue and perfectly-paced account of a high-stakes quest on the high seas and mysterious island. This new Wordsworth Collector’s Edition will make the perfect piratical present for burgeoning buccaneers who’ve yet to plunder the story’s exhilarating booty. It has a hardy hardback format, appropriately gleaming with the gold associated with buried treasure. The Wordsworth Collector's Editions make wonderful presents for children; you can find more in the series here.
Kidnapped is less widely read than Stevenson’s other children’s classic Treasure Island but is just as thrilling and exciting a story. Indeed, the action doesn’t let up from the young hero David Balfour’s first meeting with his villainous Uncle Ebeneezer to his final triumphant return at the end of the book, after he’s endured kidnap and shipwreck amongst other adventures. This new edition is very handsome indeed, featuring full colour illustrations that are both accurate in their depiction of the landscape, characters and action (the story is set in Scotland 1751) and full of atmosphere. A fine addition to a child’s bookshelf, and a great summer read too. ~ Andrea Reece
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A recommendation from our Guest Editor, September 2020, Michael Morpurgo, MBE | This is a much-loved favourite classic. Here are the thoughts of three favourite authors: Michael Morpurgo, September 2020, Guest Editor : 'A terrifically exciting tale of a dead man’s map, mutinous pirates, skulduggery and buried treasure that will be thoroughly enjoyed by a child if read aloud to them from the age of 5 upwards. It’s such a gripping adventure that children are sure to pick it up again to read alone when they’re a little older. It’s the story of Jim Hawkins who discovers a map in an old sea chest but little does he know of the danger and excitement which lie ahead when sets sail for Treasure Island in search of treasure. 'This was the first proper book I read for myself. Jim Hawkins was the first character in a book I identified with totally. I was Jim Hawkins. I lived Treasure Island as I read it. And I loved it. Still do. I wish I'd written it.' Tim Bowler, February 2011 Guest Editor: "All right, another sea story, but it's one of the best ever. I first read it at the age of ten and I've read it countless times since. It's a book I would love to have written myself. It's got everything – pirates, treasure, a sea voyage, a desert island, danger, treachery, courage, comradeship, humour, and a cast that includes some of the most memorable characters in fiction: Jim Hawkins, Squire Trelawney, Ben Gunn and Long John Silver. Every time I read this novel, it gets better. There are very few books you can say that about." March 2010 Guest Editor Michael Foreman's special memories of this book: "One of our teachers, Oscar Outlaw, realised that most of the class had no books at home. He started bringing in his own books and reading to us on Friday afternoons if it was too wet for games. First he read The Wind in the Willows. And then, Treasure Island. What a treat! We looked forward to rain." Treasure Island in a nutshell: Black spot moment. Sea dog dies. Jim finds map. Ship sets sail. Pirates on board. Island is found. Madman in cave. Two rival camps. Battle for map. Dig up chest. Treasure is gone. Gunn has gold. Head back home. Silver runs off.Jim writes book. Just click here to view our range of Children’s Classics.
‘Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!’ The classic swashbuckling story of pirates, buried treasure, shipwreck and much more is vividly brought to life in the glorious illustrations in this volume. Young Jim Hawkins tells the tale from his first meeting with the mysterious old seaman in the Admiral Benbow pub to his adventures on the high seas in search of buried treasure and the pirate, Long John Silver. The text is unabridged.
The thrilling adventures of David Balfour are told by himself in this fast-paced narrative of kidnap, escape and a quest for revenge. Set against the rugged Scottish scenery which Stevenson evokes beautifully, the story ducks and dives to a most satisfying conclusion.
Pirates! One of the greatest adventures ever told, this classic made readily accessible in a fresh-feeling edition is a must read for all lovers of a great yarn. The young narrator re-tells the story of a thrilling search for treasure aboard the Hispaniola. The voyage would be exciting enough but what makes it all the more dangerous and deadly is the presence of the legendary pirate Long John Silver. There’ll be shivers down the spine for all as they follow this rollercoaster of life, death and above all gold! This edition is part of the Vintage Children's Classics series which is aimed at and shaped by 8-12 year olds, and the adults in their lives. It is a broad, affordable selection of books that will inspire a life-long love of reading; these stories that have secured a place in the hearts of thousands. They are all unabridged. To view all the Vintage Children's Classics titles click here. They are books to be given as gifts, and passed down the generations. In addition, story hungry children often don't want the adventure to end, so why not take a look at the fully interactive website - World of Stories - which contains lots of extra material - the backstory: with quizzes, activities and fascinating facts about the books and their authors.
Breathtaking and daring, this is one of the greatest adventure stories ever told. When orphan David Balfour is shipwrecked off the Scottish coast he miraculously survives with one companion, Alan Breck. Together, the two set off across the treacherous terrain of the Scottish highlands. They are determined to avoid capture by the Redcoats and hell bent on revenge against those whose treachery put David’s life at risk. With danger on all sides this is a thrilling story nicely produced in a neatly sized edition.
Action packed and compelling, Kidnapped is a classic adventure story involving danger and revealing great courage. David Balfour has to track down his uncle to seek his inheritance. But his uncle is not all that he seems. David is kidnapped and put aboard a ship to lead him to slavery. How he is helped to escape and find safety by Alan Breck, the daring young Jacobite rebel, and how the two of them survive and make good in the rough Scottish countryside is told in dramatic and thrilling detail. This edition comes with a brilliant introduction by Alexander McCall Smith who tells us how he came to love this story and why it remains such a thrilling and exciting adventure in his mind. There's also lots of additional material at the end of the book including an author profile, a guide to who’s who plus many activities beyond the book. Just click here to view our range of Children’s Classics, then click on the Paperback tab to view all the Puffin Children’s Classics.
Along with Lavender's Blue by Kathleen Lines, this book is one of July 2011 Guest Editor Anne Fine's choices: "Everyone talks about how hard it is to introduce poetry to children, but that’s nonsense. Just start here. They’re rich and colourful, with rhythms that make them easy to read and fix in the brain. And since they mirror so many of a child’s everyday experiences, they catch their attention at once."
This is a much-loved favourite classic - and here are the thoughts of no less than four of our favourite authors, who all selected it ! June 2011 Guest Editor Michael Morpurgo remembers: 'A terrifically exciting tale of a dead man’s map, mutinous pirates, skulduggery and buried treasure that will be thoroughly enjoyed by a child if read aloud to them from the age of 5 upwards. It’s such a gripping adventure that children are sure to pick it up again to read alone when they’re a little older. It’s the story of Jim Hawkins who discovers a map in an old sea chest but little does he know of the danger and excitement which lie ahead when sets sail for Treasure Island in search of treasure. 'This was the first proper book I read for myself. Jim Hawkins was the first character in a book I identified with totally. I was Jim Hawkins. I lived Treasure Island as I read it. And I loved it. Still do. I wish I'd written it.' Tim Bowler, February 2011 Guest Editor: "All right, another sea story, but it's one of the best ever. I first read it at the age of ten and I've read it countless times since. It's a book I would love to have written myself. It's got everything – pirates, treasure, a sea voyage, a desert island, danger, treachery, courage, comradeship, humour, and a cast that includes some of the most memorable characters in fiction: Jim Hawkins, Squire Trelawney, Ben Gunn and Long John Silver. Every time I read this novel, it gets better. There are very few books you can say that about." March 2010 Guest Editor Michael Foreman's special memories of this book: "One of our teachers, Oscar Outlaw, realised that most of the class had no books at home. He started bringing in his own books and reading to us on Friday afternoons if it was too wet for games. First he read The Wind in the Willows. And then, Treasure Island. What a treat! We looked forward to rain." Marcus Sedgwick, July 2010 Guest Editor, says: "I continually list this book in my top five, because it's my belief that most people haven't actually read it, and know it only from bowdlerised abridgements, which is a shame because the real thing is powerful, dark and above all, scary." Treasure Island in a nutshell: Black spot moment. Sea dog dies. Jim finds map. Ship sets sail. Pirates on board. Island is found. Madman in cave. Two rival camps. Battle for map. Dig up chest. Treasure is gone. Gunn has gold. Head back home. Silver runs off. Jim writes book.
Dr Jekyll has discovered the ultimate drug. A chemical that can turn him into something else. Suddenly, he can unleash his cruelties in the guise of the sinister Hyde. Transforming himself at will, he roams the streets of London as his monstrous alter-ego. It seems he is master of his fate. But soon he discovers his double life at a hideous price.
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.
This complete and unabridged text of one of the classics of the high seas has been enhanced with over 70 original illustrations by award-winning artist Robert Ingpen, who has set his imagination loose on this breathtaking adventure, bringing the unforgettable characters and their thrilling escapades to life as never before. Robert is also responsible for a number of other lavish productions of classics incuding Alice in Wonderland, The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Wind in the Willows and A Christmas Carol. Click here to view them all. June 2010 Guest Editor Michael Morpurgo says of Treasure Island: "I was not an avid reader at all. I liked comics and being read to, and listening to stories. This was the first real book I read for myself. Jim Hawkins was the first character I identified with totally. I lived this book as I read it."
When Jim Hawkins discovers a map in an old sea chest, he little guesses of the danger and excitement which lie ahead. He sets sail for Treasure Island in search of treasure. A terrifically exciting tale of a dead man’s map, mutinous pirates, skulduggery and buried treasure. From Michael Morpurgo: "This was the first real book I read for myself. I lived this book as I read it."
Dr Jekyll has discovered the ultimate drug. A chemical that can turn him into something else. Suddenly, he can unleash his cruelties in the guise of the sinister Hyde. Transforming himself at will, he roams the streets of London as his monstrous alter-ego. It seems he is master of his fate. But soon he discovers his double life at a hideous price.
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.
The perfect gift for a swashbuckling young pirate. Share your beloved childhood stories with the next generation! 'No edition has ever been better illustrated than this. Ingpen's drawings are utterly compelling' - Michael Morpurgo When an old sea captain arrives at the Admiral Benbow inn with a mysterious sea chest and fearful talk of a man with one leg, the scene is set for one of the most popular adventure stories of all time. Young Jim Hawkins finds a treasure map among the captain's belongings and, accompanied by his friends Doctor Livesey and Squire Trelawney, they set off in search of Captain Flint's buried treasure. A full-colour illustrated edition of one of the world's best loved stories.
N.C. Wyeth's illustrations to Treasure Island and Kidnapped - first published in 1911 and 1913, respectively, by Charles Scribner's Sons - made his artistic reputation. With a bold mastery of light and colour, Wyeth brilliantly conveyed action, character, and setting, lending an extra excitement to Robert Louis Stevenson's tales of pirates and buried treasure, and intrigue in the Scottish Highlands. Now readers can enjoy this classic author-illustrator pairing in a handsome two-volume slipcased set, typeset anew and printed and bound to a high standard. This collectible set also includes a new introduction by Christine B. Podmaniczky, a leading expert on N.C. Wyeth. She reveals Wyeth's daring approach to these illustrations - which he painted at a large scale, directly on the canvas - and explores their later influence on visual culture, including stage and screen adaptations of Stevenson's novels.
Dr. Henry Jekyll is well-liked and admired by his friends, but seems increasingly troubled and withdrawn from their company. Meanwhile, a mysterious and repellent character, Mr. Hyde, commits crime after crime. What hold can he have over the admirable Dr. Jekyll? With fun activities after the story, and online audio in both British English and American English. CEFR level: B1. 1200 headwords, 3594 words.
This reader contains an abridged text that is true to Stevenson's novel. It comes with a free CD of the novel, an introduction, detail about the author, notes on the themes, list of characters, and a glossary. The story concerns Dr. Henry Jekyll who feels he is struggling with the good and evil within himself. This leads to a struggle between his dual personalities of Jekyll and Edward Hyde. This classic novel has been made available for students. Whether you are a student, or an Englishlanguage learner, or just looking for somethinggreat to read in English, the Word PowerEnglish Readers are a new series with retoldtext that captures the best and key elementsof the novels they are based on, characternotes, author biography and details about thetime each novel was written. There is alsoa glossary of the less familiar words in eachbook. The English used in the books is veryclear and the elegance of the language willinspire calm in the reader. This series willhelp both students of the novels, as well asstudents of English, who are looking to gainfluency in English.Each book comes with an audio recording ona CD placed into the back of the book. Therecording is read by an actor who speaksclearly and slowly for those less familiar withthe English language. The book and audiorecording can be used together to helpstudents learn the correct pronunciation asthey read and to improve their sight wordrecognition. Audio-assisted reading also helpsto build fluency skills by allowing students tohear the tone and pace of a skilful reader.The level of the Readers is B1/B2.
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