Michael Morpurgo chooses Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

More about this book:

It started with a map. In the summer of 1894 Robert Louis Stevenson, often chronically unwell, passed the time drawing: “I made the map of an island; it was elaborately and (I thought) beautifully coloured; the shape of it took my fancy beyond expression; it contained harbours that pleased me like sonnets; and with the unconsciousness of the predestined, I ticketed my performance "Treasure Island. …. as I pored upon my map of "Treasure Island," the future characters of the book began to appear there visibly among imaginary woods; and their brown faces and bright weapons peeped out upon me from unexpected quarters, as they passed to and fro, fighting, and hunting treasure, on these few square inches of a flat projection. The next thing I knew, I had some paper before me and was writing out a list of chapters. How often have I done so, and the thing gone no farther! But there seemed elements of success about this enterprise.” And success indeed followed this adventure of the high seas, of treacherous pirates and buried treasure. 

Other books mentioned during the episode:

When Fishes Flew by Michael Morpurgo

Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

The Kites are Flying by Michael Morpurgo

Twice Upon A Time is presented by Janet Ellis

Producer is Caroline Raphael

Recording and editing by John Wakefield and Diggory Waite

Exec Producer is Claire Broughton

Twice Upon A Time is a Hat Trick Podcast

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