R. L. Stevenson is very good

Kyriakos

Kyriakos

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I hadn't read the original before; half-way through translating the jekyll-hyde story. Very good writer. The greek translators maimed him.
Also, the cinematic presentations of mr hyde are ridiculous...

Renewed respect for scotland :)

-have you read rls's work?
 
I adored Treasure Island when I read it at about 12.
 
Kyriakos said:
-have you read rls's work?
Click to expand...

I have no specific recollection of reading jekyll-hyde, but I must have because I've been enraged by every movie version of it I've ever seen. To me, it should be a psychodrama not a monster movie.

I watched an interesting documentary on jekyll-hyde a few years ago. The theory is that, although the story purports to be set in London, it's really set in Edinburgh, which has a dark, medieval half, filled with narrow twisting streets , poverty, and crime and a modern half, with wide, open streets and respectability. The documentary opines it was Edinburgh's duality which gave birth to the jekyll-hyde character.

I never read Treasure Island, but I've seen innumerable movie versions, the Wallace Beery version being head and shoulders above the rest.

As a kid, I took a whack at Kidnapped, but being too young, I found it boring and never finished it. I was also under the misapprehension it was a companion novel to Treasure Island; it is not. It's set in Scotland shortly after the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie. One of the two main characters is the dashing tax collector for "The King in Exile," and is trying to get tax money to the King. The other is an idealistic young Lowlander who supports King George. Upon his father's death, the young man learns he has an uncle. The uncle kidnaps him with the aim of selling him into slavery in the Carolinas. When the two characters meet, they escape into the Highlands pursued by the murderous troops of King George. So yes, it's an adventure story, but it also has complex characters in a complex society, incorporating the spirit of duality from jekyll-hyde.

I've recently become intrigued with The Merry Men (no, not those guys). Set on a bleak, storm-tossed Scottish isle, the search is for a sunken treasure ship of the Spanish Armada. The "merry men" are towering storm-tossed waves which sound like men laughing. There may or may not have been a more recent ship wreck; may or may not have been a murder; may or may not have been a mysterious black man who may or may be the devil. I haven't found it yet, but it sounds good.

Edit: Found it on Gutenberg; downloaded it.
Edit2: The dialogue is in heavy accents, spelled out phonetically. I have no idea what these folk are saying. :dunno:
 
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Time read a bunch of his work. I loved Treasure Island as a young HoloDoc. I'm a huge fan of his work, and when my daughters are slightly older I fully intend to introduce them to his work. They've already watched a fairly good Treasure Island cartoon I found somewhere.
 
Traitorfish said:
I misread that as "R. L. Stine" and was all prepped to agree.
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I thought I was the only one! So this is what it feels like....when doves cry

the best adaptation of Treasure Island is Muppet Treasure Island, and if anyone disagrees I will fight you
 
Kyriakos said:
I hadn't read the original before; half-way through translating the jekyll-hyde story. Very good writer. The greek translators maimed him.
Also, the cinematic presentations of mr hyde are ridiculous...

Renewed respect for scotland :)

-have you read rls's work?
Click to expand...

but have you seen the 1920s silent film by F. W. Murnau called "The Janus Head"? (based on the story, but with different names. they didn't have the money. same with legendary movies like nosferatu).

or the 1931 american movie where fredric march got an academy award for his performance? considered a foundational horror movie and has great symbolism.
 
yung.carl.jung said:
but have you seen the 1920s silent film by F. W. Murnau called "The Janus Head"? (based on the story, but with different names. they didn't have the money. same with legendary movies like nosferatu).

or the 1931 american movie where fredric march got an academy award for his performance? considered a foundational horror movie and has great symbolism.
Click to expand...
No, but I saw the episode of Loony Tunes where Tweety Pie donks a potion that turns her into a monster that beats up Sylvester. Name one film that's better.
 
Avoid Treasure Planet at all costs. :run: True, some of the characters are interesting adaptations, but a wind-powered ship o' the line as a starship? How do the crew on deck even breathe?
 
Zkribbler said:
Avoid Treasure Planet at all costs. :run: True, some of the characters are interesting adaptations, but a wind-powered ship o' the line as a starship? How do the crew on deck even breathe?
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Probably the same way that all aliens always speak English.
 
yung.carl.jung said:
but have you seen the 1920s silent film by F. W. Murnau called "The Janus Head"? (based on the story, but with different names. they didn't have the money. same with legendary movies like nosferatu).

or the 1931 american movie where fredric march got an academy award for his performance? considered a foundational horror movie and has great symbolism.
Click to expand...

No. But there are many famous adaptations, where hyde is a monster. And i wouldnt even puke on that malkovic movie.
 
I've read both Treasure Island and Kidnapped. Both are still in my library. I don't remember much about them, other than they were adequate adventure stories.
 
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