The book to read after Black Sails
Black Sails is not a scene-by-scene adaptation. Its clearest literary follow-up is Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, where Long John Silver, Billy Bones, and Flint’s legacy belong to the later story. For an identifiable complete edition, use the Puffin Classics paperback ISBN 978-0-14-132100-4 (ISBN-10/ASIN 0141321008), which includes an introduction by Eoin Colfer.
Find Treasure Island on Amazon
That edition is marketed for younger readers, so choose an annotated adult edition instead if notes and historical context matter more than a compact reading copy. Do not buy a Black Sails branded tie-in expecting the television plot in novel form; there is no original series novel to read first.
What book is Black Sails connected to?
The clearest source is Treasure Island. That matters because it explains why the show feels tied to classic pirate fiction even though it is not retelling the book in a strict way.
The connection is more about foundation than repetition:
- the series grows out of the world Stevenson helped define
- it uses pirate lore, treasure hunting, and familiar literary echoes
- it creates new storylines instead of following one fixed novel plot
So the show is best understood as a new story built on an old literary frame.
How close is it to Treasure Island?
Closer in spirit than in structure.
Black Sails takes the broad pirate setting and stretches it into a longer, darker drama about power, betrayal, shifting alliances, and survival. That gives it a very different feel from a classic adventure novel.
A simple way to think about it:
- Treasure Island is a standalone novel with a classic adventure shape
- Black Sails is a serialized TV drama that expands the pirate world into a larger original story
- the book helps explain the show’s heritage, but it does not control the plot
If you go in expecting a page-to-screen adaptation, the show will feel different. If you go in expecting an original series with literary roots, the fit makes more sense.
Do you need to read the book first?
No. You do not need to read Treasure Island before watching Black Sails.
In fact, many people will get more out of the series by treating it as its own story first. Then, if they are curious, they can read or listen to the novel afterward and notice where the show borrows names, tone, and pirate imagery.
That order usually works well because the book is short and the show is much larger in scope. A later read makes the reference points easier to spot without turning the series into a comparison exercise from the start.
If you prefer audio, an audiobook of Treasure Island is an easy way to revisit the source material without committing to a full sit-down read. It is a fast companion piece, not a prerequisite.
Who will like Black Sails most?
Black Sails is a good pick for viewers who enjoy:
- original TV stories that borrow from classic literature
- pirate fiction with more tension and politics than a simple treasure hunt
- character-driven plots with shifting loyalties
- a show that stands on its own even when you know the literary connection
It is less useful if what you really want is a direct adaptation of a single book. That is not the show’s job.
Best way to approach it
The easiest way to enjoy Black Sails is to treat it as a new pirate drama with a classic literary shadow. That framing keeps the experience clear.
If you want the full picture, a good order is:
- Watch Black Sails as its own story.
- Read or listen to Treasure Island afterward.
- Compare the atmosphere, the names, and the pirate mythology the show builds on.
That gives you both versions without forcing one to do the other’s job.
Verdict
Black Sails is based on a book only in the broad, inspirational sense. Its strongest literary link is Treasure Island, but the series is an original drama rather than a direct adaptation.
So the short answer is simple: yes, it has a book connection, but no, it is not a straight book-to-screen version. Watch the show for its own story, then go to Stevenson’s novel if you want the classic source that helped shape it.
FAQ
Is Black Sails a direct adaptation of Treasure Island?
No. It draws from the novel, but the story is original.
Do I need to read Treasure Island to follow Black Sails?
No. The series works on its own.
Is Treasure Island a series or a book?
It is a standalone novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Why do people connect Black Sails with Treasure Island?
Because the show borrows from the book’s pirate world and expands it into a new story.
Sources checked
The exact paperback identity and format were checked against Penguin Random House’s official Treasure Island product page.