“… there fell out the map of an island, with latitude and longitude, soundings, names of hills and bays and inlets, and every particular that would be needed to bring a ship to a safe anchorage upon its shores.”
Robert Louis Stevenson and Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh in 1850 and died in Samoa in 1894 aged just 44. His most famous novels include Kidnapped, the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and, of course, Treasure Island which was published in 1882.
The beginning of Part Two of Treasure Island is set in Bristol. The crew of the Hispaniola was recruited in Bristol and Long John Silver was the landlord of the Spyglass Inn.
The evidence that Stevenson came to Bristol is on a list that he wrote while recovering from a severe bout of illness in Bournemouth (where he wrote Jekyll and Hyde) and is stated in a document entitled ‘All the places where I have slept’ – Bristol is on the list.
It’s also likely he drew his inspiration for Bristol from John Addington Symonds, who he recuperated with in Davos, Switzerland on two occasions, either side (and during) the writing of Treasure Island (Stevenson actually finished the second tranche of Treasure Island in Davos – the first half was written in Braemar).
As well as being a classicist, Bristol-born Symonds (the owner of Clifton Hill House), was a local historian who wrote a history of Bristol.
Treasure Island Trail
The Treasure Island Trail is a fun, family-friendly walk that guides you around the heart of Bristol’s historic Floating Harbour, from atmospheric King Street to M Shed, exploring Bristol’s maritime heritage and many literary connections.
About a mile long, the Treasure Island Trail has eight Black Spots, each with fascinating insights into Bristol’s connections with Treasure Island, telling the story in sequence. The whole trail is accessible by bike and on foot.
The Trail is suitable for families, young and old, with the easy navigation that guides you from planter to planter to uncover each Spot’s connection to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and other works of literature. Each Black Spot has an excerpt of Treasure Island to read, as well as fascinating facts about Bristol’s famous pirates and maritime history.
The period of maritime history covered by the Treasure Island Trail slots in perfectly between The Matthew ship and Brunel’s SS Great Britain, so visitors can experience a full breadth of maritime history in Bristol.
You can make your own way round the Treasure Island Trail or to arrange a guided walk please get in touch at info@longjohnsilvertrust.org or via the Contact Page.