Long John Silver:the true and eventful History of My Life of Liberty and Adventure as a Gentleman of Fortune and Enemy to Mankind

As a child, when on holiday on my grandparents' farm in southern Queensland, I discovered a small cupboard of books that once belonged to my mother and her brother. Among the books was a copy of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. One of the memorable characters in the book was the pirate, Long John Silver.

In Long John Silver by Bjorn Larsson (translated by Tom Geddes) we have John Silver's account of his long life at sea. The subtitle of the book - the true and eventful History of My Life of Liberty and Adventure as a Gentleman of Fortune and Enemy to Mankind - indicates that this will be a an account of exciting and dangerous exploits.

As John Silver nears the end of his life he realises that he needs to make his story known in contrast to accounts of his deeds and doings perpetrated by others. He is a wanted man and it is inevitable that although he is presently safe on the island of Madagascar he will eventually be discovered. He has no intention of being taken alive. The account of his sea-going adventures will be enjoyed by readers of the books of Patrick O'Brian. 

Throughout the book references to real people are made including Daniel Defoe who he meets researching a book about pirates and pirateering. John Silver provides him with some information on the condition that Silver's name is not mentioned. When John Silver completes his own account of his life at sea he bequeaths it into the care of Jim Hawkins.

All in all this is the story of a sometimes troubled man recounting and justifying the actions of his life at sea.