DOC Treasure Island: The Untold Story by John Amrhein; Jr. in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. a good followup. RecommendedBy albert j andersonRead John's first book; a good followup. Recommended read1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. ripping good yarnBy CustomerThis is actually a pretty good read for a piece of historical non fiction. It's a great insight into the world at that time. The economics and politics of the 1700s were quite interesting; the people creating opportunities for themselves in the "new world" were as enterprising then as the global entrepreneurs are now with their expanding markets. The way the author connects the story of the Lloyd brothers up with Robert Louis Stevenson is a perfect example of how fiction grows from strange historical fact. Stevenson's family being in the West Indies at the time of this colossal theft is true. Stevenson undoubtedly knew the story as it was one of the greatest thefts of all time. What finally became of the Lloyd brothers is a "ripping good yarn".2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. This is truly The Untold Story of Treasure Island! A delightful read!By Charles GeorgeI first met John Amrhein in the summer of 2009 at an unveiling of a scale model of the Spanish galleon La Galga at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. I was excited to meet John since I had recently read and thoroughly enjoyed his first book; The Hidden Galleon; the story about of his exhaustive search on the Spanish galleon; La Galga. Prior to our meeting; John and I had spoken on the phone about a new book he was working on derived in part from his research on The Hidden Galleon. John told me that the new book was going to be about pirates; scoundrels; opportunists; and a series of events that influenced today's modern perception of pirates; namely Robert Louis Stevenson and his classic story Treasure Island.I was intrigued and could not wait to read Treasure Island: The Untold Story and it proved to be well worth the wait! Real life is truly stranger than fiction and Treasure Island: The Untold Story proves this adage well. Move over Captain Jack Sparrow; there is a new pirate in town and he is much more interesting and exciting because he was real! Captain Jack has nothing on Owen Lloyd; a genuine pirate; conman; privateer; merchant captain; devoted husband; and a victim of Spanish privateers! But Captain Jack owes is very existence to Owen Lloyd. Pirates of the Caribbean was born from Walt Disney's 1950 movie version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. And if it hadn't been for Owen Lloyd; there probably wouldn't have been any classic adventure tale written by Robert Louis Stevenson.Written in two parts; Treasure Island: The Untold Story is a well written; thoroughly researched; unbiased tale of intrigue; treachery; passion; love; and real-life decisions. The events occurred during a delicate time in history when the new fragile truce between England and Spain was threatened when Owen Lloyd decided to liberate Spanish treasure from a disabled Spanish galleon. Lloyd hoped the stolen loot would enable him to return as a rich man to his new bride in St. Kitts. Little did Owen know that his shenanigans would set off a series of complicated international incidents that took years to resolve. Twenty-four years later; the great grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson died at St. Kitts where some of the major players in the treasure drama still lived.The first part of Treasure Island: The Untold Story is a fast paced account of the events surrounding the theft of the Spanish treasure that reads more like a novel than a historical account with the many twists; turns; and characters involved in the caper; but in this case the tale is factual! The author uses meticulously researched legal transcripts; letters; depositions; and historical records of the events to weave and present this complex story of fate and buried treasure.There are many colorful characters in the saga; from the hapless Spanish merchant; Juan Manuel Bonilla; the custodian of the treasure and the captain of the ill-fated treasure galleon; Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe; the crooked and greedy Governors of Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina and the villainous and corrupt Governors of various Caribbean islands; the cutthroat opportunists directly involved in the caper; and the real life flawed hero; Owen Lloyd. This is a true story of buried treasure; ill-fated imprisonment; a daring escape; and a dogged persecution. The story is presented with remarkable accuracy that can only be pulled off by Amrhein with his resolute determination to get the history right and backed up with real historical documents; not supposition.Owen Lloyd was by no means a saint; but he had good reasons to steal the treasure. He hated the Spanish because he had been robbed of his own merchant vessel by the Spanish privateer Don Pedro de Garaicochea. Owen's peg-legged brother; John; had been captured and thrown into a Havana prison. Owen was forced to secure John's freedom by paying a ransom with the last of his personal cash; breaking the recent newlywed's bank and creating a perfect storm that begat the dramatic piracy; his stealthy escape from the hangman's noose; and his early death; presumably from the barrel of a gun owned by someone he swindled. In the end Owen did what he felt he had to do and paid dearly for it.The second part of Amrhein'sTreasure Island concerns the authors return to Treasure Island and the extensive research and the byzantine trail that he pursued in getting the facts to write the narrative. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the author's argument that Lloyd's treasure buried in 1750 at Norman Island in the BVI and the treasure map found in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island; also dated 1750; is no unrelated coincidence.In 1876; Stevenson met his future wife; one Fanny Vandegrift Osbourne; who was a close friend and suspected lover of a California treasure hunter named John Lloyd. The treasure map that inspired Stevenson's classic was drawn; not by Stevenson; but by his stepson; Lloyd Osbourne; named after this Welshman. Did Robert Louis Stevenson get the idea for his classic tale of piracy from Fanny or John? You must read Treasure Island: The Untold Story to find that out!This is a must have book for all you would-be pirates out there! The history is well presented and the accompanying photographs; documents; and prints let the reader go back to the past and relieve this great sea adventure. I can truly say that this the best book I have ever read about piracy! Read it and you will relive it!