Monday, July 18, 2011

Moonfleet

This lovely Folio Society book is an adventure/treasure/coming-of-age story and, as such, has been compared favorably with Treasure Island. (e.g. VS Prichett says ‘In the class of Stevenson’s Kidnapped or Treasure Island’). I thought it was a very good story, although pretty sentimental and with some plot coincidences that strain credibility. Sentimentality doesn't slow me down much, but I would not really recommend it to others on that account. Paraphrasing Lloyd Bentsen: "Moonfleet, I have read Treasure Island, I know Treasure Island, Treasure Island is a favorite of mine. Moonfleet, you are no Treasure Island".