Treasure Island is the seminal pirates and buried treasure novel; which is so brilliantly concocted that it appeals to readers both young and old. The story is told in the first person by young Jim Hawkins; whose mother keeps the Admiral Benbow Inn. An old seadog; a resident at the inn; hires Jim to keep a watch out for other sailors whom he fears but; despite all precautions; the old man is served with the black spot which means death. Among the dead man's belongings Jim discovers a map showing the location of the buried treasure of the notorious pirate Captain Flint. It is not long before he; along with Doctor Livesey and Squire Trelawney; sets sail to find the treasure. However; amongst the hired hands is the one-legged Long John Silver who has designs on the treasure for himself. The continuing fascination with this tale of high drama; buried treasure and treachery bears out what Stevenson wrote about the book to his friend W. E. Henley: 'if this don't fetch the kids; why; they have gone rotten since my day.' The book not only continues to 'fetch the kids' but the grown-ups too - in fact all those with the spirit of adventure in their hearts.