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Finding Treasure Island
When Robert Louis Stevenson sketches a map for his stepson Sam while on holiday in Braemar in 1881, it sets them off on the adventure of a lifetime.The Highlands, 1881
“You’ve sketched a map.” “It’s our island—no one else but us, boys only. An adventure for us.” It was more than a sketch. It was detailed. The island had a point at its top and then widened before an inlet cut deep into the land. On its southern end the coast was shaped like an ‘r’, forming a bay in which another, smaller island was drawn…
While Stevenson is inspired to write his first great story, Treasure Island, that holiday, Sam has a treasure hunt of his own to pursue, guided through the hidden forests and dangerous glens of the Cairngorms by the mystical Jen Hawkins. The missing memoir of Sam Osbourne, which reveals his part in the birth of the greatest adventure story written, still loved 150 years later, Finding Treasure Island is a life-changing story and adventure in pursuit of buried treasure and more.
“You’ve sketched a map.” “It’s our island—no one else but us, boys only. An adventure for us.” It was more than a sketch. It was detailed. The island had a point at its top and then widened before an inlet cut deep into the land. On its southern end the coast was shaped like an ‘r’, forming a bay in which another, smaller island was drawn…
While Stevenson is inspired to write his first great story, Treasure Island, that holiday, Sam has a treasure hunt of his own to pursue, guided through the hidden forests and dangerous glens of the Cairngorms by the mystical Jen Hawkins. The missing memoir of Sam Osbourne, which reveals his part in the birth of the greatest adventure story written, still loved 150 years later, Finding Treasure Island is a life-changing story and adventure in pursuit of buried treasure and more.
- GenresMiddle Grade
200 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2023
About the author
Robin Scott-Elliot
6 books4 followersRobin Scott-Elliot has been a sports journalist for over 25 years with the BBC, ITV, the Sunday Times, the Independent and ‘i’, covering every sport you can think of and a few you probably can’t. The highlight was the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics; the lowlight turning up at the wrong stadium to cover Scotland’s football team.
Finding Treasure Island is his fourth historical-fiction novel after The Tzar’s Curious Runaways, The Acrobats of Agra and Hide and Seek.
He lives in Helensburgh with his wife and two daughters, and a dog, a cat, a rabbit and a guinea pig.
Finding Treasure Island is his fourth historical-fiction novel after The Tzar’s Curious Runaways, The Acrobats of Agra and Hide and Seek.
He lives in Helensburgh with his wife and two daughters, and a dog, a cat, a rabbit and a guinea pig.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 19, 2023
Finding Treasure Island is the "missing memoir" of Sam Osbourne, Robert Louis Stevenson's stepson, and tells the story of how RLS came to write possibly his most famous work, Treasure Island. I've been a fan of RLS since a very young age (Kidnapped and Treasure Island being my favourites as a boy) and as I also lived at two lighthouses built by his relatives (Tarbat Ness by his grandfather Robert, and Scurdie Ness by his uncle David and father Thomas) I've always felt a bit of a connection to the family, so I dived into this book with great anticipation. I wasn't disappointed.
It's 1881, and young Sam travels with the Family Stevenson (including the above-mentioned father Thomas) to Braemar for a holiday. In the course of this visit, Sam's stepfather becomes inspired to write a pirate adventure (initially called The Sea Cook but quickly discarded for the far better title Treasure Island). The spark for all this inspiration? Sam's meeting with the girl who works at the inn, Jen Hawkins, and her insistence of the existence of buried treasure nearby... There are treasure maps, villainous Silvers, and thrills a-plenty as Sam and Jen hunt for the buried treasure. Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!
For me, a highlight of the book is when Robert Louis Stevenson has completed the first few chapters, and sits the family down to read the story so far. The exultation of creativity has rarely been so well depicted; similarly, the fragility of this exultation when Sam comes home late from adventuring with Jen, missing the next instalment, and RLS is disappointed that he wasn't there, is heart-breaking. "I'm writing this damn story for you after all, my boy," he says, his mercurial shifts foreshadowing another of his famous tales.
The hints of Highland magic and myth through the book add to its allure, too. Robin Scott-Elliot deftly weaves real characters and events with fanciful interpolations that should delight everyone, especially if you have a fondness for Treasure Island.
I'm grateful to Cranachan for providing a review copy of this book.
It's 1881, and young Sam travels with the Family Stevenson (including the above-mentioned father Thomas) to Braemar for a holiday. In the course of this visit, Sam's stepfather becomes inspired to write a pirate adventure (initially called The Sea Cook but quickly discarded for the far better title Treasure Island). The spark for all this inspiration? Sam's meeting with the girl who works at the inn, Jen Hawkins, and her insistence of the existence of buried treasure nearby... There are treasure maps, villainous Silvers, and thrills a-plenty as Sam and Jen hunt for the buried treasure. Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!
For me, a highlight of the book is when Robert Louis Stevenson has completed the first few chapters, and sits the family down to read the story so far. The exultation of creativity has rarely been so well depicted; similarly, the fragility of this exultation when Sam comes home late from adventuring with Jen, missing the next instalment, and RLS is disappointed that he wasn't there, is heart-breaking. "I'm writing this damn story for you after all, my boy," he says, his mercurial shifts foreshadowing another of his famous tales.
The hints of Highland magic and myth through the book add to its allure, too. Robin Scott-Elliot deftly weaves real characters and events with fanciful interpolations that should delight everyone, especially if you have a fondness for Treasure Island.
I'm grateful to Cranachan for providing a review copy of this book.
January 30, 2024
This was a dissapointing read. I think it had a lot of potential but the book never really came to life and lacked spark. I wasn't surprised when I learned that the author has a background in journalism rather than Fiction.
Cynically I have to wonder if the author watched 'Finding Neverland' and decided to do his own version, even down to the title...
Cynically I have to wonder if the author watched 'Finding Neverland' and decided to do his own version, even down to the title...
December 10, 2024
Loved this book. It was a fun, quick read. It made me look forward to bedtime when I would get to read another chapter. I felt drawn to the characters and descriptions of the Scottish landscape and village of Beamer. I also loved getting a bit more historical background at the end in the section which describes all the real life characters.
October 26, 2023
I greatly enjoyed this imagining of the dank summer spent in Braemar when Robert Louis Stevenson wrote his masterpiece Treasure Island. You can read my full review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
April 18, 2025
This one's actually aimed at younger readers but enjoyable nonetheless. Recommended for fans of Robert Louis Stevenson and Treasure Island
May 10, 2025
i went to a library and decided to pick something i would not normally read this was so cute and lighthearted!
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June 13, 2025starting to read this for school homework :(
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews