Author:Audrey Howard
Liverpool, 1921. It was the year lively Kate Fowler rebelled against working in her hated father's chip shop and, with her gentle sister Jenny, left his brutal house forever. For this was the Jazz Age - and Kate and Jenny revelled in their freedom and in dancing until dawn, until romance changed the tempo of their lives.
For Kate, it was Charlie, a man as strong and warm-hearted as herself. For Jenny, it was Nils, the Norwegian navigator, who shared a brief, bittersweet affair with her before tragically disappearing from her life. And while Kate and Charlie together face the bad times that are coming, Jenny looks set to repeat the tragic pattern of her mother's life.
Spike Milligan wrote the book on today's sense of humour...
—— Sunday TimesDeeply pleasing and convivial
—— GuardianVastly entertaining
—— ScotsmanGripping
Fascinating and richly colourful
—— HeraldSilver provides a fitting sequel to Treasure Island, certainly, but also stands in its own right as a companion volume to a literary classic
—— ObserverElegant, affectionate homage to Robert Louis Stevenson … A piece of writing born of genuine love and respect for the original
—— The Sunday TimesHis voice is unlike any other
—— New StatesmanMotion's book is sensitive and porous. It fits seamlessly into the groove left by its parent, and yet is also something that is languidly original. The potency of the story must win out: Treasure Island is 'accursed', and young Jim, too, must suffer hardship and loss. Though the book ends with a powerful affirmation, there is much uncertainty that points to more. For which I, for one, fervently hope
—— Philip Womack , Literary ReviewMotion is a beautiful lyricist unpretentiously and precisely describing those things worth having even as he casts unsettling shadows across them
—— GuardianThe thrilling follow-up to Treasure Island, as told by one of England's greatest contemporary writers...Silver is a worthy sequel to Treasure Island and a work of extraordinary authenticity
—— GQLike Stevenson, Motion has achieved that very difficult thing: a children’s novel that works even better for adults. Look to your laurels, Rowling
—— The TimesA solid adventure yarn, full of ghostly echoes of Stevenson, with a denser tropical atmosphere and an even more palpable sense of evil
—— TLSThere are sequels and prequels aplenty, but this follow-up to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure island by the former Poet Laureate reeks of authenticity, cunning, intrigue, suspense and adventure.It’s brilliant, and for all ages
—— Henry Sutton , Daily MirrorHe reinvents Stevenson’s world to reveal its dark underside, illuminating both its mysterious beauty and its grim immortality.Silver provides a fitting sequel to Treasure Island, certainly, but also stands in its own right as a companion volume to a literary classic.
—— Daisy Hay , The ObserverSilver is a deeply pleasing and convivial book… As with Treasure Island, Silver is left open to the possibility of its own sequel, and surely no one would wish Motion to swallow the anchor. All aboard! All aboard! All aboard that's coming aboard.
—— Ian Sansom , The GuardianSilver…captures something of the old magic. The thrilling flight across moor and heather that Henry James admired in Kidnapped.... finds expression in Silver’s action scenes set amid Caribbean waters.
—— Ian Thomson , Financial TimesBeautifully written and genuinely exciting... Motion’s novel stays true to Stevenson’s original... Outstanding.
—— Emma Lee-Potter, author of House With No NameSilver’s plot twists and turns and introduces elements beyond even Stevenson’s imagination. The result is a fascinating and richly coloured novel that can be read by children with an appetite for adventure and adults who will relish reliving the glory days of youth.
—— Alan Taylor , HeraldElegant, affectionate homage to Robert Louis Stevenson is straight out of this classic adventure-story mould… A piece of writing born of genuine love and respect for the original.
—— Adam Lively , Sunday TimesA thrilling follow-up to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island...Silver is a novel that will appeal to readers of all ages. Beautifully written and genuinely exciting...Best of all, Motion’s novel stays true to Stevenson’s original tale while adding an extra dimension.
—— Emma Lee-Potter , Daily ExpressElegant, thrilling sequel...The plot is gripping, a mixture of high adventure, low cunning and desperation...Motion’s prose vivid and glowingly poetic, is a brilliant counterpoint to the fascinating action.
—— Eithne Farry , Daily MailThis is a pacey tale with an appropriately feisty young heroine for modern readers
—— Lesley McDowell , Independent on SundayAndrew Motion brings lyricism but, more importantly, rollicking adventure to this sequel to Treasure Island
—— Mail on Sunday